Norman Lamb MP, Lib Dem spokesman on Health, visited Ludlow on Friday (31st March) to discuss good practice on health care in rural areas.
The meeting which included representatives from the Ludlow Hospital League of friends and the NFU included discussion on
Rural health care.
Maternity care
Mental health care
Care for hospital leavers.
Ambulance response times.
Cllr Heather Kidd (Chirbury and Worthen), Added: “He brought lots of experience and good practice the table as a rural MP. What was particularly useful was the exchange of ideas on good practices. For example we learnt about a Social Enterprise running health services in East Anglia – East Coast Community Health Care. Here the community can buy shares at £1 per share in a genuine community venture that delivers heath care including employing GP’s.”
MENTAL HEALTH
Norman Lamb has a reputation as a campaigner on mental health issues and currently chairs the West Midlands Regional Commission for Mental Health. Much of the discussion was given over to mental issues in the agricultural community, especially the issue of suicides on farms which have been a significant number recently. Cllr Richard Huffer (Clee Division) and a farmer himself, added: “Loneliness, financial pressure and stress all contribute to a very disturbing picture in the farming community across the UK and I’m glad the Regional Commission on Mental Health is beginning to address of the problem but there must now be an emphasis on local rural mental health services.”