Rosie Duffield for Canterbury

3 hours ago

I’m very grateful to retired midwife Jane for her endorsement. The need for improved standards and support for local maternity services will continue to be at the forefront of my work in Westminster if you re-elect me as your MP next week.

Childbirth should not be something women fear or look back on with trauma. That’s why Labour will ensure that hospital trusts failing on maternity care are robustly supported into rapid improvement. ... See MoreSee Less

Rosie Duffield for Canterbury

1 day ago

Too many patients in our local hospitals are left waiting for hours, often in pain and misery, before they can be taken for vital scans.

The NHS has fewer diagnostic scanners per person than other countries, with many ageing machines operating long after they should. State of the art scanners are faster and more effective, saving lives in the process.

That’s why Labour will introduce a new ‘Fit For the Future’ fund to double the number of CT and MRI scanners in our hospitals, allowing the NHS to catch cancer and other conditions much earlier. ... See MoreSee Less

Rosie Duffield for Canterbury

1 day ago

Today, junior doctors in East Kent and across the country are taking industrial action. It’s clear that these strikes are only taking place because of a continued failure from ministers to get around the negotiating table with the British Medical Association to try and end the dispute.

Strikes are always a last resort, and it’s clear that junior doctors would much rather be treating patients than standing on a picket line. But against the backdrop of the fastest fall in real-wages on record, they need fair pay for a fair day’s work, and I completely understand the strength of feeling.

Instead of trying to blame striking health workers for the rise in waiting lists – which have continued to rise even when no staff have been on strike – ministers should have been negotiating a resolution to put patients and staff first. That’s why an incoming Labour government will sit down with junior doctors straight away, so we can negotiate an end to these strikes once and for all. ... See MoreSee Less

Rosie Duffield for Canterbury

2 days ago

In the last parliament, I co-chaired a landmark cross-party parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma, which recently launched our report, working with the Birth Trauma Association.

We found that too many mothers and their families have been left with terrible physical and psychological consequences as a result of traumatic births, and we want to end the taboo that keeps these stories hidden. The Government accepted our recommendations, including the need for better maternity standards, an end to the ‘postcode lottery’, and a new Maternity Commissioner to improve healthcare for mothers and their babies. The Secretary of State also incorporated birth trauma into the Women’s Health Strategy.

Locally, I’ve worked with health ministers and affected local families following the publication of Dr Bill Kirkup’s report into East Kent Hospitals maternity services. Some have been through so much, and we owe it to them to ensure that Government continues to work with the Hospital Trust to transform maternity care in East Kent. ... See MoreSee Less

Rosie Duffield for Canterbury

2 days ago

The NHS is on its knees. 7.5 million people are stuck on waiting lists, often in pain and misery. Labour will tackle this urgent crisis and get our NHS back on its feet by delivering more operations, appointments and diagnostic tests during the evening and at weekends.

We’ll do this by paying staff extra to do additional shifts out of hours. This will get people the treatment they desperately need, save the taxpayer money, and allow us to focus on reforming the NHS to make it fit for the future.

Five years ago, the Tories promised us a new hospital in Canterbury, but we’re further from delivery than ever. Ministers have ignored repeated bids for critical capital investment into local health services. We deserve better than pre-war infrastructure and fragmented services, and I will continue to fight for what we need, located close to home.

Labour will build an NHS fit for the future with these first steps:
• Cut NHS waiting times with 40,000 more appointments every week
• Double the number of cancer scanners
• A new Dentistry Rescue Plan
• 8,500 additional mental health staff
• The return of the family doctor ... See MoreSee Less

Rosie Duffield for Canterbury

3 days ago

The climate and nature crisis is the greatest long-term global challenge that we face. The clean energy transition represents a huge opportunity to generate growth, tackle the cost-of-living crisis, and make Britain energy independent once again. That’s why clean energy by 2030 is Labour’s mission.

Britain can be a clean energy superpower. Labour will set up Great Britain Energy and deliver our Green Prosperity Plan to invest in the industries of the future, creating 650,000 jobs by 2030. We’ll also invest in home insulation upgrades for millions, to save families hundreds of pounds on their energy bills.

Labour will tackle the nature emergency, clean up our rivers and seas, improve access to nature, promote biodiversity, and protect our landscapes and wildlife.
Only a vote for Labour on 4th July will deliver British energy security and protect our precious natural environment. ... See MoreSee Less

Rosie Duffield for Canterbury

4 days ago

As a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee since 2020, I’ve been part of a number of landmark inquiries covering a range of topics, and I’ve been proud to be the voice of the Garden of England on the committee.

We live in such a beautiful place, with its own particular challenges, and if re-elected then I want to continue this important work, including on:

- the growing issue of mental health in rural communities,
- the need for better food labelling,
- improving pet welfare and cracking down on pet smuggling
- addressing the impact of trade deals on exports and food supply chains,
- investing in and protection of our precious green spaces,
- sustainable farm practices and protecting soil health,
- the effect of species reintroduction and improving biodiversity,
- holding failing water companies to account,
- championing our local fishing industry, and
- urging the Government to act to tackle the labour shortage in British agriculture and horticulture.

I’ll continue to meet regularly with local food and drink producers, conservationists, and campaigners and put their questions directly to DEFRA ministers and civil servants. ... See MoreSee Less