IN RECENT months I have been contacted by people who are concerned about the build quality of their newly constructed homes. As a result I have called for a change in the rules protecting new house purchasers to promote more transparency in the quality checks that are undertaken when a new house is built.

There are laws in place to protect new house buyers but we have to make sure those laws are effective and that purchasers can be confident about the quality of work when making one of the biggest purchases of their life. Making Approved Inspectors reports available to new home buyers could help.

ONE of our most important local services is primary healthcare provided through local GP surgeries. Many residents have told me say they want to be confident they can get an urgent appointment with their GP if they have a real concern about their health.

Last week I met a group of local GPs to discuss this. In Basingstoke we have a rapidly ageing population and so there has never been more pressure on GP services. Basingstoke We're is fortunate to have a well-established out of hours GP service provided by Hantsdoc already providing seven day a week access to a GP in an emergency. The real challenge now is how GPs can respond to the way people’s lives have changed.

It’s right that GPs are free at the point of access but they are not a limitless resource. As a community wWe have to find the right balance: ensuring everyone has access to a GP when they need it, ensuring GPs reflect the changing pressures on their patients lives and living within the NHS budget. It’s in all our interests that we get this balance right.