LABOUR Leader Ed Miliband visited Warrington to show his support for paliamentary candidate Nick Bent and to listen to people’s concerns about access to GPs – pledging that under a Labour government GP appointments would be guaranteed within 48 hours.
Mr Miliband and Mr Bent, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Warrington South and a Great Sankey resident, met with patients from across Great Sankey affected by the shock closure of the GP surgery on Barrow Hall Lane.
Residents also raised wider concerns about recent changes to the NHS and problems at Warrington Hospital.
After listening to residents, Mr Bent and Labour Councillors renewed their calls on NHS England to dramatically improve access to GPs in the area.
Mr Miliband also pledged to residents that he would write personally to NHS England about the situation.
They are calling on NHS England to:
* Immediately approve a temporary new GP surgery at the now-vacant site of the closed Barrow Hall Lane surgery (a GP nearby has agreed to provide the service).
* Ensure the long-awaited Health Centre at nearby Chapelford is completed and a GP surgery opened as a matter of urgency.
Mr Bent commented: “Ed Miliband has come personally to hear people’s concerns about what the Tories are doing to the NHS and to set out Labour’s vision
for a One Nation NHS that cares for the whole person at every stage of life.”
People in Warrington were also among the very first to hear Labour’s new national pledge on GP appointments – with Mr Miliband promisung that under a Labour Government everybody would be guaranteed a GP appointment within 48 hours.
Meanwhile Warrington South MP David Mowat said he was delighted to welcome Mr Miliband to Warrington.
“However his visit would be more constructive if he asked his shadow health team to stop opposing plans to change the health funding formula in Warrington’s favour. In the current year, Warrington was awarded the highest increase in funding in the north of England in the teeth of Labour opposition. They should drop that opposition now.” 
Picture shows top (l-R) local Cllr. Jean Carter with Nick Bent, Ed Miliband and local Labour candidate Karen Mundry and above local residents
Labour leader pledges GP access within 48 hours!
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
