Colchester Liberal Democrats are calling on the local Conservative MP Will Quince to back an amendment to the King’s Speech to address the crisis in the NHS

– The amendment calls for a legal right for patients to see their GP within a week and an NHS dentists rescue plan

– It comes as NHS waiting lists have hit a record high of 7.8 million

Liberal Democrats in Colchester have called on local Conservative MP Will Quince to back an amendment in Parliament this week calling for a GP and dental care rescue plan.

It comes ahead of a series of crunch votes on the King’s Speech in Parliament tomorrow (Wednesday 15 November).

The Liberal Democrat amendment would give a patient a legal right to see their GP within a week, and 24 hours if in urgent need. It also calls on the government to publish a dental recovery plan as promised seven months after a shocking rise in the number of ‘dental deserts’ leaving people struggling to see an NHS dentist when they need to.

Other measures in the amendment include ensuring the Conservative manifesto pledge of building 40 new hospitals is met, with many currently facing delays and not receiving adequate funding. 

Colchester Liberal Democrats have said that if Conservative MP Will Quince does not back the amendment it would show a “callous disregard for those in Colchester stuck on NHS waiting lists”.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Colchester, Martin Goss said:

“This Conservative government has brought our local health services to their knees. Everyday, people in Colchester are struggling to get a GP appointment or cannot find a dentist taking NHS patients.

“Real action on the NHS was glaringly missing from the King’s Speech. Will Quince needs to back the Liberal Democrat amendment to it and ensure that local health services are put front and centre of the government’s agenda. 

“Anything less would show a callous disregard for those in Colchester stuck on NHS waiting lists, unable to get the treatment that they deserve.”

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