Healthcare investment a great start to 2025 says MP Terry Jermy
In his fortnightly column, South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy discusses healthcare investment…
May I begin by wishing Lynn News readers a very happy new year. I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas and festive period.
It’s been a busy start to the year with a focus for the Government on health and social care – something I very much support having made it my number one campaign priority in South West Norfolk.
Wes Streeting, the Health and Social Care Secretary, began 2025 by announcing a funding boost of more than £1.3m for Norfolk Councils as part of an £86million boost nationwide to the Disabled Facilities Grant scheme. As part of the funding announced, Breckland Council will receive an extra £199,563 and West Norfolk Council will receive an extra £267,577. The DFG scheme helps pay for important adaptations to people’s homes including installing a wet room or stairlift if necessary. This allows people to be discharged from hospital but also helps people to stay at home for longer, living independently. Money routinely runs out locally causing blockages in the overall system so this extra funding is a very welcome boost.
This announcement is part of a package of measures confirmed by the Government to improve adult social care, support the care workforce and take pressure off the NHS. Care workers across Norfolk will be better supported to take on further duties to deliver health interventions, such as blood pressure checks, meaning people in South West Norfolk can receive more routine checks and care at home without needing to travel.
Another key manifesto pledge was ensuring people could get a GP appointment when they needed one. Labour’s plan is to bring back the family doctor and end the 8am scramble for appointments. The proposals are backed by the biggest boost to GP funding in years – an extra £889m on top of the existing budget for general practice.
When I speak to people in my constituency, I hear time and time again the difficulty that residents have in making a GP appointment and how important the front door to our NHS is to them and their families. I look forward to improvements with this specific aspect of our healthcare system.
I promised residents in South West Norfolk that health and social care would be a priority so I am delighted to see proposals that would deliver important changes. As part of ongoing conversations, I’m holding a drop in discussion for local people in Downham in early February – if you would like to attend to talk about concerns, ideas or suggestions to improve our NHS and social care system, please contact my office to confirm details.
