Priti Patel, the Member of Parliament for Witham, has written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, calling for urgent action to prioritise the delivery of a new, multipurpose health centre in Witham.
In a letter to the Secretary of State following the publication of the Government’s new “Fit for the Future” 10-Year Health Plan for England, Priti welcomed the ambition to improve community-based healthcare but expressed concern that towns like Witham risk being left behind unless the Government commits to concrete investment in local services.
Priti has long campaigned for a dedicated health facility in Witham, bringing together GP services, diagnostics, mental health support and other forms of care under one roof. She highlighted the decade-long efforts to deliver such a facility, and the local frustration over missed opportunities due to lack of NHS capital funding and delays in decision-making.
Priti Patel MP said:
“The people of Witham have waited far too long for the improvements to local healthcare that they deserve. The new Health Plan rightly recognises the importance of Neighbourhood Health Centres – but we need to see those words turned into action. Witham is ready. The need is clear, the community support is strong, and a solution has been worked on for years. We now need the Government to back it.”
In her letter, Priti asks the Secretary of State to confirm whether Witham will be included in the first wave of Neighbourhood Health Centres, what capital and revenue funding is being made available, and how the Department will work with the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) to finally move the project forward.
