Andrew Mitchell MP has visited Ashfield Surgery in Walmley, Sutton Coldfield as part of the British Medical Association’s MP-GP practice visit scheme. As one of the largest group practices in Sutton Coldfield, Ashfield Surgery looks after more than 16,000 patients from the local area. Andrew Mitchell was given a tour of the surgery by the Practice Manager, Mrs Jenny Keane, and met with Dr Andrew Blight and partners to discuss their views on government plans to reform the NHS. During the meeting at Ashfield Surgery, Andrew Mitchell listened to the doctors’ concerns about the impact of the proposals on medical services in Sutton Coldfield. He also heard their views on planned changes to the management structure of Primary Care Trusts and discussed some of the budgetary and practical issues arising from giving greater power to GPs and from allowing patients the freedom to choose which GP they wish to register with. Andrew Mitchell reassured the doctors that he was committed to ensuring that GPs were well equipped to be able to deliver an outstanding standard of care to patients in Sutton Coldfield. He reiterated that the government’s reforms will drive up standards, reduce wasteful bureaucracy, increase democratic participation in the NHS and make it more accountable to the patients that it serves. Andrew Mitchell said that “the surgeries in Sutton Coldfield provide a vital and much valued service that we need to protect”. He thanked GPs and staff at the practice for the excellent quality of care they deliver: “Walmley is unbelievably well served by Ashfield Surgery and I am grateful for the outstanding job that you do in looking after patients from the local area”. The picture shows Andrew Mitchell MP with (L-R) Dr Sarabjit Soorae, Dr Sally Cope, Dr Lynn Sheldrake, Dr Huw Lester, Mrs Jenny Keane, Dr Andrew Blight and Dr Christopher Lenton.