RACHEL Gilmour MP was “incredibly proud” to vote in favour of the Liberal Democrats’ motions to rescue community healthcare and end the carers' repayment scandal.

On the Liberal Democrats’ first Opposition Day since 2009, Rachel Gilmour MP voted for the party’s motions to fix the dual crises of health and care.

Mrs Gilmour’s vote to resolve these crucial issues follows shocking new statistics, commissioned by the Lib Dems, which revealed that one in four Brits have been unable to work because they can’t get an NHS appointment.

The poll indicated that a massive 45 per cent of the population have been unable to book a GP or dentist appointment - revealing the extent of the strain on the NHS system as we head into the winter months.

The first Liberal Democrat proposal focused on the Carer’s Allowance repayments scandal, calling on the Government to write off existing overpayments and conduct a full review of support for unpaid carers.

It was revealed earlier this year that the government was seeking to recover money from more than 134,000 carers across the UK.

Lib Dem Leader, Sir Ed Davy, who is a carer for his disabled son and cared for his mother when he was young, said the strict income threshold of £151 had led to many carers wanting to give up working or caring in some cases.

The second motion urged Ministers to tackle the NHS crisis by improving access to GPs, NHS dentists and community pharmacists.

Despite the strain on the NHS as we head into the winter months, Labour MPs voted against the motions.

Mrs Gilmour expressed her regret that the bill had faced opposition and pledged their continued dedication to putting health and care top of the parliamentary priority list.

Commenting on the vote, Rachel Gilmour, Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead, said: “I was incredibly proud to vote in favour of these essential proposals.

“The state of community healthcare in Tiverton and Minehead is not up to scratch and the carers overpayment scandal is a national disgrace.

“When I speak to families and pensioners across Tiverton and Minehead, I hear time and time again that people can’t get an NHS appointment when they so desperately need it. That’s why I threw my support behind these measures - voting to rescue our GPs, NHS dentists, community pharmacists and of course our carers.

“I was disappointed to see that the government opposed these motions. Our health and care services need dignity and capability now more than ever - especially after the squeeze on winter fuel payments that will drive NHS and care demand sky-high.

“I am urging the government to follow the Liberal Democrats’ example and make health and social care their top priority.”

In Labour’s election manifesto, the party ensured they would cut NHS waiting times with a pledge to achieve 40,000 more appointments every week.

Analysis conducted by NHS Confederation and CF (Carnall Farrar) revealed that delivering these additional appointments would not be enough to achieve the 18-week waiting time target by the end of the current parliament.