It was a pleasure to meet with Fiona Edwards and Dr Huw Thomas from Frimley CCG this week. Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) commission most of the hospital and community NHS services in the local areas for which they are responsible. Frimley CCG oversees the Englefield Green area of the constituency, and works with our GPs and other healthcare providers to ensure the health services we need are provided locally.
Our discussion focused on the delivery of the covid vaccination programme, access to GP surgeries and primary care services in general, and community nursing provision. This follows similar discussions I have been having with Surrey Heartlands CCG (which covers the rest of the constituency), and St Peter's Hospital. Maintaining access to health services is vital, and local co-operation and co-ordination is essential to delivering the best services for residents.
The NHS remains under pressure as it works to address the backlog caused by covid, and we go into winter with the expected usual increase in demand. Increased funding from central government will help to address this, but we must continue to work at all levels to ensure that everyone has timely access to the advice, support and treatment they need.
