Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket MP, Dr Peter Prinsley, said the NHS had not changed enough for those suffering with long-term conditions

A debate on long-term illnesses has sparked calls from a Suffolk MP for the NHS to evolve.

Dr Peter Prinsley, MP for the Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket constituency, led a debate on Thursday focusing on the Government's approach to long-term illnesses.

In his opening speech, he said conversations with his constituents had resulted in similar experiences, sparking calls for a long-term plan.

He said: "The reality for many is that by the time they reach my age, they are fortunate if they have never had to visit a clinic or see a nurse about something that is no longer working quite as well as it should.

"All too often, it is the same story: it is those with long-term conditions, not deadly diseases, who feel most let down now."

Dr Prinsley, a now-retired ear, nose and throat surgeon, made bringing his healthcare expertise to the Government one of his top priorities during his election campaign.

He said: "When I was a medical student, a heart attack was managed with morphine and bed rest — things have certainly changed, and yet the NHS has not changed enough."

Making sure those living with conditions such as diabetes and arthritis could manage them, he said, was important not only on a personal level but also economically.

Key to this, he argued, was keeping healthcare close to communities, rather than in hospitals.

"The NHS must be a neighbourhood health service," he said, "not just a national health service."

Though they do not directly result in any changes, Westminster Hall debates are a chance for backbench MPs to share their views on a particular issue and seek to influence future policy.

Dr Prinsley suggested a range of reforms, including giving patients their own medical records to give them agency over their conditions, and focusing on prevention through tackling poverty, bad nutrition and poor housing.

On medical staff, he suggested investing in newly qualified nurses and midwives, stopping the reliance on expensive agency staff, and writing off student debt for those who commit to working in the NHS for five years.

Dr Prinsley said: "There is much for us to do, but I am convinced there is much that we can do to create easier access to NHS services, improve primary care and support those who want to conduct groundbreaking medical research.

"I hope the Government will look to tackle our long-term conditions crisis."