ACCESS to good health and social care matters to every family in South East Cornwall. Whether it’s getting a GP appointment, accessing rehabilitation after an illness, receiving specialist support for a loved one, or finding quality care later in life, people deserve services that are there when they need them.

So far this summer, I’ve been meeting with some of the brilliant people and organisations in our area who are truly committed to supporting their local communities. We must recognise both the incredible work being done and the challenges that still need to be addressed.

One person who really shows that dedication is Ann, the proprietor and manager of Coombe House Residential Home in Liskeard, who has been caring for local people since the 1980s. Coombe House specialises in dementia care, providing support that enables residents to live with dignity, compassion, and respect. When I visited recently, I saw first-hand the difference that high-quality care can make, not just to residents but to their families as well.

There’s another brilliant team at St Luke’s Hospice across the Tamar. The team supports loved ones from South East Cornwall who need palliative and end-of-life care. I’ve had personal experience of just how distressing this time can be for families, and it’s great that we have passionate people nearby to support us. But local families face challenges, including travel costs, and needing more end-of-life provision closer to home.

Lorna and the team at the Echo Centre also demonstrate some of the fantastic care we have in our area, and I was recently able to visit them. They do incredible work to support people with physical disabilities, brain injuries, cognitive impairment, and other long-term neurological conditions. Many people who have used the service have described it as life-changing, and this was very apparent when seeing the rehabilitation services first-hand.

I’ve also been following up with our healthcare services, such as Rosedean Surgery, because people have contacted me about the various issues at the practice. I’ve previously written to the executive team at One Medicare to highlight these experiences, and I was recently able to discuss these issues with the team in person. GP recruitment is a major issue, and I am glad that they are taking steps to address the problem. But I stressed that they need open and timely communication with myself and patients so that people know what to realistically expect.

I am glad that the government is taking steps to plan the long-term future of health and social care. Three new community mental health centres have been announced for Cornwall to provide more support across our area. The Big Conversation on Care is also running until September 1, and I’m encouraging people across South East Cornwall to take part so that our voices are heard.

When Parliament returns, I will continue taking the concerns and experiences of local people to Westminster. We need to ensure that there’s the support and resources required to continue delivering the high-quality care that local people deserve.