I have had some heartbreaking discussions with local people over the Christmas break about the NHS. Despite months of hospital planning and additional funds, the winter has hit even harder than expected.

Our local NHS workforce and chiefs are also working extremely hard to support patients through the winter.

I appreciate the constituents who have taken time out to provide details of their experiences and ideas for changes ‘on the ground’. You all make a difference to my work.

The Prime Minister addressed NHS issues in his New Year speech and the Secretary of State made extensive health and social care announcements on the first day of Parliament this week. I challenged him about funding following local comments.

I cannot do justice in this column to all that needs to happen with the health service but I think the time is coming when changes have to be made and a mature debate will be needed. We can improve the NHS for those who need it alongside supporting the vital frontline workforce.

A cross-party consensus about radically reforming the NHS also appears to be coming. The Labour leader has ditched his previous approach and some of his party’s ideological stance about the NHS.

I hope he is sincere and not just manoeuvring to win votes. We need this new approach to survive left wing anger within his party and MPs. We need the new programmes from the Health Secretary to kick in quickly too. The issues about the future of our health service are desperate ones and people across the Stroud district want solutions.

Everything should be on the table to help the NHS adapt to our ageing population. From more emphasis on prevention rather than intervention to looking at charging for missed appointments and using private providers as Labour is now advocating. We will keep pushing to see announcements in Westminster have an impact on Gloucestershire patients and I remain dedicated to trying to get our Stroud maternity post-natal beds open again while campaigning for midwives.