Helen Morgan to start 2025 by leading NHS debate in Commons

Helen Morgan MP is set to start her Parliamentary work for 2025 by leading a debate on NHS backlogs in the House of Commons.

The MP, who serves as Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, has secured a debate in the House of Commons on Monday which is the first sitting day of Parliament of the New Year.

Helen will be highlighting the ongoing crisis with hospital waiting times and is hoping to apply pressure to Keir Starmer’s Government to get on top of the health and care crisis by ‘fixing the foundations’ of the system – better access to GP services, care packages, and NHS dentistry would reduce stress higher up the chain.

This comes after Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB today issued a press release due to the 'extreme pressure' facing the service and resultant new rules on visits.

The debate follows announcement by Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Social Care reform. The Minister has announced an independent inquiry into social care reform, led by Baroness Casey, alongside cross-party talks on the future of care provision. The Government say that this will ‘lay the foundations’ of a National Care Service.

Liberal Democrats have been calling for the major parties to work together on the issue for years, making fixing the health and care crisis their top priority during the General Election campaign.

Helen Morgan said, “Backlogs across the NHS are bad, and in many cases getting worse. I’m starting off 2025 in Parliament by leading a debate on the issue, and making the point that people in rural counties like Shropshire deserve better.

“Recent progress on CT and MRI scan timings in Shropshire are proof that services can be improved and delays reduced. We need to see action from the Labour Government that shows they understand the urgency of the situation.

“This announcement on the social care review is long overdue. I’m glad that the Government has committed to cross-party talks to build a consensus to fix our broken social care system, but we can’t afford to wait three more years for a new plan. We need immediate measures to tackle the chronic shortage of trained care workers.

“Liberal Democrats have long been campaigning for cross-party talks on care, so we stand ready and eager to bring our ideas to this process and to ensure that the voices of family carers are heard throughout."