NORTH West Leicestershire Liberal Democrats have criticised Amanda Hack's decision not to support the party's motions aimed at fixing health and care issues.

Tabled as part of the Liberal Democrats' Opposition Day Debate in Parliament since 2009, the first proposal focused on the Carers' Allowance repayments issue, while the second urged MPs to boost access to community healthcare, lambasting the current wait times for GP, NHS dentist and local pharmacy appointments. 

North West Leicestershire's MP was one of those to reject the two parliamentary motions.

However, Ms Hack has now issued a response to the LibDem comments.

The Liberal Democrats say they have uncovered data, revealed in the last year, claiming that 45 per cent of British people have tried and were unable to get an NHS appointment. 

The statistics also indicated that one in four people have been unable to work because of this lack of access to appointments. 

Coalville MP Amanda Hack. Photo: Supplied

The Liberal Democrats' proposal called for new healthcare mandates which would give everyone the right to see a GP within seven days - or within 24 hours if in urgent need - and guarantee emergency access to an NHS dentist.

But Labour MPs voted against the motions, to the LibDems' dismay.

Michael Wyatt, Liberal Democrat Leader with North West Leicestershire District Council, said: "I'm deeply disappointed to see that the Labour Government opposed these motions. What was even more disappointing was to see our MP fail to support motions in Parliament that would see more support for health and care services in our community. 

"The state of local healthcare is dire and the carers' overpayment scandal is a national disgrace. Families and pensioners across North West Leicestershire are in desperate need of a fair deal. 

"That's why Liberal Democrat MPs threw their support behind these measures - voting to rescue our GPs, NHS dentists, community pharmacists and of course our carers. 

"Locally, we'll keep putting pressure on the Labour MP Amanda Hack to do the right thing. Health and social care must be their top priority."

But Amanda Hack has now issued a statement responding to the remarks.

She said: "The Opposition Day Motions debated in parliament this week followed a time honoured tradition. 

"Opposition parties use the occasions to take potshots at the government. This generally involves calling for uncosted policies that are impossible to implement quickly in the real world - particularly following 14 years of Tory AND Liberal Democrat austerity.

"I spent much of my career working to improve public services in Leicestershire. It's never easy, particularly when resources are limited.

"After less than four months in Westminster representing the people of North West Leicestershire, I'm in a much stronger position to make the case for the services that local people need. It will take time, but I'm fully behind a government that plans to improve the NHS to meet the population's needs in the 21st Century.

"The opposition motions were amended by the government and agreed by parliament. The final wording reflects the responsible approach being adopted by the new government.

"MPs welcomed the urgency with which the government commissioned Lord Darzi to conduct an independent investigation of the NHS in England; recognised the investment of £82 million to recruit 1,000 newly qualified GPs; noted a new commitment to tackle the dental crisis by providing 700,000 urgent appointments; approved plans to expand the role of pharmacies and welcomed work to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy as care shifts from hospital to community.

"We condemned the previous government's failure to address the scandal around the overpayment of Carer's Allowance. We also welcomed a review to determine what went wrong, what can be done, and how to prevent it from reoccurring.

"Change has begun and it will be delivered in a sustainable manner that steers clear of crashing the economy."