Bridlington MP, Charlie Dewhirst, recently spoke in the House of Commons to raise concerns about the significant health inequalities faced by coastal towns like his own.
Mr Dewhirst called on the government to take action on the recommendations made by England's Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, in his 2021 report on health in coastal communities.
In his speech, Mr Dewhirst highlighted the stark demographic data for Bridlington, noting that it has the oldest and most deprived population in the East Riding of Yorkshire. He cited data showing that men living in the Bridlington South Ward have a life expectancy 10 years lower than those living elsewhere in the county:
Mr Dewhirst emphasized the growing inequalities in health in Bridlington, quoting the Director of Public Health for the East Riding, who called it a "wake-up call to do something about it".
The MP went on to outline the challenges faced by residents in accessing health services, including long waiting lists for dentists, difficulties securing GP appointments, and a reduction in outpatient services at Bridlington Hospital. He argued that the current system is "broken" and called for a comprehensive strategy to address the issues.
Mr Dewhirst also drew attention to Chris Whitty's 2021 report, which highlighted the lack of data on the health of coastal communities and called for a national strategy to improve their health and well-being. He expressed disappointment that the report's recommendations have yet to be acted upon:
In his response, Health Minister Stephen Kinnock acknowledged the problems raised by Mr Dewhirst and assured him that the government is committed to fixing the "broken" health and care system.
Mr Kinnock outlined the government's plans to reform the dental contract, improve GP access, and address the specific issues faced by Bridlington Hospital. He also highlighted the upcoming national conversation on health and care, which will inform a 10-year plan to be published in the spring of 2025.
Mr Kinnock specifically addressed the issue of coastal towns, acknowledging the trend of older demographics moving to coastal areas that often lack sufficient health and social care facilities. He agreed that this is a significant issue that needs to be addressed and assured Mr Dewhirst that it will be factored into the 10-year plan:
In his concluding remarks, Mr Dewhirst urged the minister to focus on tackling health inequalities in seaside towns like Bridlington, suggesting they could serve as a "pilot scheme" for the government's initiatives. He expressed confidence that with the right effort and direction, the town could have a health service to be proud of.
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