MP Jackie Doyle-Price has vowed to get the borough’s GPs working seven days a week.

The triumphant Tory MP says health is her number one priority, and she’s pledged to make sure doctors “deliver”forThurrock residents, with the days of waiting too long for an appointment consigned to the past.

Ms Doyle-Price spoke exclusively with the Gazette in the aftermath of her dramatic re–election, which saw her hold off challenges for her seat from Labour and Ukip.

She told us of her determination to improve our health services, saying she wants GP practices to open longer into the evenings and for seven days a week by 2020, if not sooner. And she told the Gazette £500,000 has already been made available to the Thurrock CCG to extend GP opening hours.

On the funding, she said: “We are clear that it is for GPs to own the care of their patients and we will make sure they deliver. I would encourage all practices to make plans for seven dayopening as soon as possible.With practices open for more hours a week, the days of waiting too long for an appointment will be long gone.”

During the election campaign, Ms Doyle-Price came in for heavy criticism from her rivals for backing proposals to close the NHS walk-in centre inGrays.

The proposals are still under consideration, but at the time Ms Doyle- Price said the closure of the walk-in – not the GP service – would enable services to be provided elsewhere in Thurrock where people need them most.

She said: “While some people have no reason to fault the service of their GP, for others the service is simply not adequate.

“We need to work together to ensure that all residents in Thurrock have good service from their GP.”

Ms Doyle-Price said underperforming GP services will be givennotice to improve.

She added: “Walk-in services are merely sticking plaster when compared with what GPs can deliver and I support the CCG’s decision to reallocate the funds to GP services.”