IN 1945 Labour had the vision to create the NHS: a universal taxpayer-funded service free at the point of use.

Those values are as relevant today as they were 70 years ago, but they are under threat.

Herefordshire residents know that the NHS is under sustained pressure: patients are waiting hours in A & E; non-urgent operations are cancelled; and staff are working harder than ever.

The Tory/Lib Dem re-organisation of the NHS has wasted £3 billion of taxpayers’ money; the independent King’s Fund said that the reorganisation has distracted attention from improving patient care.

One in three residents in north Herefordshire is over 65 so it does not make sense to separate ‘health’ care from ‘social’ care.

Labour’s vision for the future NHS will bring together hospital and primary care services, mental health and social care into a single service to meet all of a person’s needs.

Labour will repeal the Health and Social Care Act and recruit more doctors, nurses and midwives funded by a tax on properties worth over £2 million; we will improve the pay and conditions of home care workers; and introduce new times for cancer tests and GP appointments.

My priorities will be: l To work with the NHS and social services to make sure Herefordshire has sufficient doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives and social workers.

l To be an advocate for patients by lobbying Government and NHS England for much greater investment in primary care services: Leominster and Bromyard Community Hospitals should be expanded; Kington urgently needs more GPs and an NHS dental practice.

l To lead by example – all of us need to exercise more and eat healthier food.

In 2014 I walked 78 miles for charity in a month; this year I plan to walk 140 miles!