Member

I also want to pick up on what Members have said about the NHS in rural areas. It is really important to understand the size of rural areas and the lack of public transport. A few years ago, my constituents in one village nearly lost their GP surgery. The ICB was not particularly worried because apparently people could get to other GPs in the general area. Well, they could not, because there was no public transport. My constituents kicked up enough of a stink that, fortunately, the ICB changed its view and has ensured that they do indeed have a local surgery. We have to understand that it is a much bigger area; it is not like in a town or city where people probably can get a bus to another GP. If someone cannot get to their GP in a rural area, they have a real problem, because their GP cannot get to them either.