Our MPs recently voted through the Health and Social Care Bill, which will be detrimental to the NHS by removing the founding principle of care being provided free at the point of need.

This event passed by largely unnoticed.

This week we read that the new GP commissioning group set to replace primary care trusts in 2013 is saying new GP surgeries are not needed.

At this time of economic depression, it is crazy to waste billions on reorganising the NHS.

We are told by those who voted changes through, including Bob Russell and Bernard Jenkin, that reform is needed in the NHS.

Now plans for our new surgery in Wivenhoe are thrown into doubt and Bernard Jenkin has the cheek to point the finger of blame at someone else.

This is his Government, this is on his watch, he supported the NHS changes.

The primary care trust was set to deliver new GP surgeries but it is being replaced.

The development of the Wivenhoe surgery was part of the strategy developed by Colchester Primary Care Trust when I was a non-executive director.

It was a hub and spoke approach, with the Primary Care Centre in Turner Road being the hub and strategically-placed new surgeries were planned around the area.

I remain convinced that this strategy was right and should be delivered to the people.

Bernard, you cannot vote for dismantling the NHS one day and then complain about the consequences of your actions a week later.

County councillor Julie Young
Wivenhoe St Andrew Division
Mascot Square
Colchester