Dr Neil Hudson, Member of Parliament for Epping Forest has launched a vigorous campaign to secure a new GP surgery for residents in Chigwell and improve access to primary care facilities more broadly across Epping Forest.
In response to growing concerns from constituents and local doctors alike, Dr Hudson has taken decisive action. The Epping Forest MP has written directly to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, urging for immediate action to remedy the absence of a GP surgery in Chigwell Parish. Despite having a growing population of 12,500, Chigwell remains the only parish without a dedicated GP surgery to serve its residents.
In the letter, Dr Hudson highlighted the growing concerns of constituents who are facing increasingly long wait times for appointments and difficulties in accessing primary care services, particularly for patients who are elderly or who have limited mobility. The Epping Forest MP emphasised that the current situation is putting undue pressure on existing healthcare facilities in the Health Secretary’s own constituency of Ilford North.
In addition to writing to the Secretary of State, Dr Hudson has tabled written Parliamentary questions to the Department of Health and Social Care to further Illustrate to the Government the need for improved access to primary care services, particularly concerning GP surgeries.
Furthermore, Dr Hudson has engaged with the local Integrated Care Board (ICB), Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB, to push for the establishment of a GP surgery in Chigwell and highlight the critical issues this absence has caused residents.
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Epping Forest said:
“Access to timely and quality primary care is essential to ensuring better health outcomes. The current absence of a surgery in Chigwell has resulted in many residents being unable to see a GP within a timely manner.
“I am committed to fighting for better healthcare services for our community and ensuring that Chigwell receives the healthcare infrastructure it desperately needs. I urge both the Health Secretary and the Integrated Care Board to consider our request seriously and work with us to improve access to primary care in Epping Forest.”
