Phil Wilson, the local Parliamentary candidate, was joined by Jonathan Ashworth, the Shadow Health Secretary during a visit to the Pioneering Care Centre in Newton Aycliffe. Mr Wilson, a champion of the PCP’s fantastic work, was keen to show off the centre during Mr Ashworth’s visit to the region.
Having spent time at the Community Garden, with the Options Social Club and with the Health Outreach group, Phil has seen first-hand the amazing work the Pioneering Care Partnership do in the local community and their support of health and wellbeing. Their success at tackling the health inequalities which are made worse by the Government’s failure to invest in the NHS.
Before the visit Mr Wilson said ‘I wanted to show Jonathon the fantastic services provided by the PCP. I have witnessed first-hand the important impact this work has on the local community, and I wanted Labour’s Heath spokesperson to see the vital role such partnerships can play in the local community.’
In the last 10 years the PCP has expanded from 9 employees to 80, and currently has 30 projects under their umbrella. This growth, a result of the hard work of the staff and community, has massively extended the PCP’s ability
to provide services which build capacity with the individual ad communities to improve their own health and wellbeing and have greater choice. From going into work places to discuss mental health to providing services for people in their communities, the PCP aims to provide a preventative service for local people.
Labour Health spokesperson Jonathan Ashworth commented ‘It was a pleasure to visit the PCP with Phil Wilson today, a champion and advocate for the Centre and the area. The staff at the PCP do a fantastic job in delivering
much needed health services to the local area.
The success of the centre is testament to their ethos and brilliant work. Their focus on prevention, which eases pressure on GP surgeries and A&E, is a vital part of the wider NHS services.’
Following the visit Mr Wilson said ‘I would first like to say a big thank you to all of the staff and people at the PCP who took the time out of their day to speak to Jonathan and myself.
The PCP does fantastic work, and I know Jonathan was impressed. Every time I visit the PCP, I am blown away by the amazing work they do, and today was no different. Mr Wilson added “I am worried that the relentless Conservative cuts threaten services such as these. It is Conservative cuts which threaten Darlington A&E, which is why a Tory cannot be trusted to support the NHS services local people need. Myself, Jonathan, and the Labour Party understand that these services are vital to our community and that is why I will always support them and fight for them.”
Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth with Phil Wilson (centre) and PCP staff.
Labour supporters with Phil Wilson launching the Election campaign
