Local MP Ben Spencer fails to support motions to fix health and care crises

Runnymede Liberal Democrats have criticised Ben Spencer’s decision not to support a motion that would have seen the Government rescue community healthcare and end the carer's repayment scandal.

Runnymede and Weybridge’s Conservative MP has rejected two parliamentary motions to tackle the health and care crises.

Tabled as part of the Liberal Democrats’ first Opposition Day since 2009, the first proposal focused on the Carer’s Allowance repayments scandal, calling on the Government to write off existing overpayments and conduct a full review of support for unpaid carers. 

The second motion urged Ministers to boost access to community healthcare, lambasting the current wait times for GP, NHS dentist and local pharmacy appointments. Shocking recent data uncovered by the Liberal Democrats revealed that in the last year, 45% of Brits have tried and were unable to get an NHS appointment. The statistics further indicated that 1 in 4 people have been unable to work because of this lack of access to appointments.  

The Liberal Democrats’ proposal called for new healthcare mandates which would give everyone the right to see a GP within 7 days (or within 24 hours if in urgent need) and guarantee emergency access to an NHS dentist.

Despite the huge strain on the NHS as we head into the winter months, Labour MPs voted against the motions and Conservatives failed to vote. Runnymede and Weybridge’s Lib Dems criticised their decision as “deeply disappointing.”

Commenting on the vote, Ellen Nicholson, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Runnymede and Weybridge, said:

“I’m deeply disappointed to see that our Conservative MP failed to support these motions. 

“The state of local healthcare is dire and the carers’ overpayment scandal is a national disgrace. Families and pensioners across Runnymede and Weybridge are in desperate need of a fair deal. 

“That’s why Liberal Democrat MPs threw their support behind these measures - voting to rescue our GPs, NHS dentists, community pharmacists and of course our carers. 

“Locally, we’ll keep putting pressure on our MP to do the right thing. Health and social care must be his priority.”

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