I am absolutely appalled that 2,596 patients in St Helens borough had to wait more than 28 days for GP appointments in the last year.

Delays in initial appointments increase emergency appointments as untreated conditions worsen over time, and problems become harder and more expensive to treat. It is bad for the NHS, bad for the public purse and bad for the patients.

Cuts to NHS funding are a false economy – the Tories must properly fund our NHS now.