DEMOGRAPHIC changes are putting pressure on accident and emergency departments all over the country including Bolton Royal, with over a million more visits since 2010.

To address this issue the government has funded 1200 A&E doctors and 400 more A&E consultants. Across the NHS there are 8,000 more doctors than in 2010.

The government also made £700 million available to help A&E pressures earlier than ever, this year. This money pays for the equivalent of 1,000 extra doctors, 1,200 nurses and 2,000 community staff including social workers and physiotherapists.

Such a level of investment is allowing A&E departments to treat thousands more people within four hours, around 2000 per day compared with 2010. The NHS budget in total has increased by £12.7 billion over this Parliament.

Locally, I believe Bolton Council can and should release funds to support front line social care services in the town. If the present Chief Executive is not replaced and tax payer funding of trade unions is reduced by £85,000, this would release approximately £280,000 of extra monies to be invested in social care for the financial year 2015/16.

If Bolton Council can find £6.5 million to renovate the Albert Halls and £3 million for the proposed revamp of Newport Street then it can surely find extra funds to help some of the most vulnerable in the town.

James Daly

Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

Bolton North East