Angela visited Market Street Medical Practice in Droylsden to chat to Dr Ashwin Ramachandra and Dr Samira Anane about the challenges they face every day as GPs.

She said: “My fellow MPs and I receive lots of information about problems within the NHS but it’s always beneficial to get out there and speak to those that are acutely affected to see how the situation can be improved. Dr Ramachandra and Dr Anane – who have years of experience between them – are advocates for the Rebuild General Practice campaign which is calling for a proper long term plan that puts patients at the centre.”

The campaign’s main three aims are – a plan to retain the GP workforce, fair funding as part of the wider NHS and greater freedom and autonomy for GPs.

Angela said: “Dr Ramachandra told me that he feels immensely privileged to be such an integral part of the community in Droylsden. During covid, him and his staff were forced to adapt to completely new working conditions overnight and find innovative ways to remain in contact with patients.

“He told me that while he loves his job, years of neglect have broken the system and retaining dedicated and experienced staff is becoming as much of a problem as recruiting new people into the profession.”

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer and Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting visited the North West last week to share the party’s vision to improve the NHS and in particular, the Child Health Action Plan.

The plan promises to cut waiting lists for children by getting the NHS working round the clock delivering two million more planned care appointments per year at evenings and weekends.

Labour will also end the crisis in child mental health by cutting waiting lists for mental health services by recruiting thousands more staff, introducing specialist mental health support for children and young people in every school and delivering an open access children and young people’s mental health hub for every community.

The plan aims to eliminate dental deserts and improve children’s oral health by delivering 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments per year, so more children can see a dentist when they really need to. Labour will recruit dentists to areas that need them with a targeted enhanced recruitment scheme and introduce a targeted national supervised toothbrushing programme for 3–5-year-olds in our fully funded breakfast clubs.

The plans also include a crackdown on smoking and vaping, free breakfast clubs and a ban on junk food advertising before 9pm.