LABOUR leader, Ed Miliband is absolutely right to prioritise the NHS in the run up to the general election in May, 2015.

It is absolutely essential that we stop the sell-off of our NHS and build world-class health and social care services that we can all rely on. We have all seen the recent hospital bed crisis in Bolton on January 6, when the chair of Bolton NHS foundation trust, David Wakefield declared a “major incident” in response to difficulties at Bolton’s A&E.

The Royal Bolton Hospital is already recognised as one of the busiest in the North West. Over Christmas and New Year, the North West Ambulance Service reported its busiest ever period since it was formed in 2006, with Bolton ambulance crews reporting 500 delays in getting people into hospital. Nurses, doctors, paramedics, health care assistants and social work staff have all been working flat out to get help get people in and out of hospital as quickly and safely as possible. However no-one can work miracles and ultimately everything comes back to resources.

It was good to see Bolton’s three MPs, David Crausby, Julie Hilling and Yasmin Qureshi raising important questions locally with NHS managers, and nationally with Health Minister, Jeremy Hunt MP.

Key issues raised include the impact of:-

•The closure of Bolton’s walk in centre in July 2012

•Difficulties faced by patients trying to see their GP

•Staff shortages across the NHS in key areas

•The closure of hospital wards and reductions in beds

•Privatisation of health and other services

•The impact of public spending cuts elsewhere

There is no one single reason for the beds crisis but it is only by asking searching questions that we can get to the root of what has happened.

I was particularly pleased to see our local MPs asking that Ed Miliband pledge to reverse spending cuts to health and social care. It is more vital than ever that our locally elected representatives have the backbone to stand up and fight for the future of our NHS.

Martin Challender

Bolton