'I am also continuing my healthcare campaign,'

MP for Wrexham

Last week, the North Walian Conservative group in Parliament met with representatives from the North Wales Community Health Council (CHC) to discuss our concerns and experiences of healthcare provision and services across the region. Many of us became Members of Parliament in 2019 and since becoming elected representatives we have all heard too many stories about failures in our local healthcare system – from long waits at A&E, an inability to access GP appointments or, at worst, people relocating across the border to England to access the services they so desperately need.

Whilst healthcare is devolved to the Welsh Labour Government, we want to fight for our constituents’ right to access excellent healthcare services, and we will do so in Parliament in whatever ways possible. The Welsh Government have refused my call for an inquiry into healthcare services in Wrexham, which is why I, and the other North Wales Conservative MPs, have plans to speak with healthcare stakeholders from across North Wales to discuss concerns. These discussions are needed so that we can stand up for you, the residents of North Wales, because the Welsh Government are letting you down.

In Wrexham, I am also continuing my healthcare campaign, which is gathering evidence from across our town to highlight why action from the Welsh Government is needed. As part of this, I have also written to the Senedd Member for Wrexham to suggest we meet in order to discuss how we, as the elected representatives for Wrexham, can work together to make improvements. The Welsh NHS is the responsibility of the Welsh Labour Government, so any action I take will need buy-in from our Senedd Member and I hope that she will be onboard.

If you would like to send the Welsh Government a message, you can sign my healthcare campaign at: www.sarahatherton.org.uk/health-care-wrexham.

On International Women’s Day last week, I was honoured to have been recognised as one of a hundred influential women by The House Magazine in their ‘Women in Westminster’ awards, in recognition of my work in Parliament and my inquiry into the experiences of women in the Armed Forces. The Women in Westminster awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of women from across Westminster, from Parliamentarians to journalists and civil servants. Other women recognised included the Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss and Dame Kate Bingham, who spearheaded the hugely successful vaccine taskforce which led us out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Given the impressive achievements of all the other ninety-nine women on the list, it was a real honour to have been included.

On International Women’s Day, I also took the opportunity to celebrate women across Wrexham, the UK and beyond who make a difference in all that they do, making particular mention of the women in our Armed Forces and defence sector more widely. Women in this sector play a very important role, which is why I will always advocate for and celebrate their work and achievements.

Finally, in Parliament last week, I was also pleased to be able to celebrate and recognise the work of Anna Buckley, the Polish Integration Support Group and all the volunteers that have come together in support of the people of Ukraine. During questions to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, I was able to bring Wrexham’s efforts to the attention of the Michael Gove, the Secretary of State, who welcomed all that had been achieved by our town.

As always if you are resident in Wrexham and need my assistance with any local or national issue, please make contact with me by emailing sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk.