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A&E concerns at centre of Labour's Stafford bid

A parliamentary candidate for Stafford says she will fight to bring A&E services back to the town if she wins at the next general election.

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Joyce Still is the Labour Party's candidate for Stafford at the next general election.

NHS worker Joyce Still has put concerns over the lack of a round-the-clock emergency department at County Hospital at the top of her agenda as she bids to win Stafford back for Labour.

She is also calling for more cash for youth services to help clamp down on anti-social behaviour, a reduction in homelessness, and regeneration for the town centre, which she says is currently "going to waste".

Mrs Still, a trained nurse and midwife who now works as a health visitor, says her experience has given her a good understanding of the issues surrounding the NHS

The 65-year-old said local people were "still very unhappy" about the situation with County Hospital's A&E department, which lost 24 hour services earlier this year.

"They do not want to be forced to take elderly relatives to Stoke to wait for hours to be seen," she said.

"People are concerned about travelling to Royal Stoke University Hospital – families with young children, the time and cost of visiting family members."

She also raised concerns that the town's growing population could make it harder for people to get GP appointments.

"One elderly lady told me she travels all the way to Cannock for injections to treat her rheumatoid arthritis, and that bus services are scarce now," Mrs Still added.

"An elderly couple in the Haywoods cannot get to the GP by bus anymore, relying on kind neighbours after being independent all their lives."

Highlighting spates of anti-social behaviour in some areas, she said: "Young people say there is nothing to do, but we must invest in youth services and prevent boredom.

"Many people, sadly, are concerned about levels of homelessness in the town, unprecedented in Stafford, which I highlighted at the Labour Party Conference this year."

On the issue of retail in Stafford, she said: "The High Street comes up because people say it is rundown and shops continue to close.

"I must agree, the town needs regeneration and its potential is going to waste. But I have also met people with really good ideas to make Stafford the attractive town it should be."

Mrs Still said she wants to be "Stafford’s voice in Westminster", adding: "I really enjoy meeting people here and I believe I can make a difference if I become Stafford’s MP."

Stafford has been held by Conservative Jeremy Lefroy since he won the seat from Labour in 2010.

He is standing down at the next election. Mrs Still will face opposition from Tory candidate Theodora Clarke, the Brexit Party's Anne Grahamslaw and Alex Wagner for the Lib Dems.

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