ONE of the best pieces of advice I have been given is that all politics is local.

Every decision that is made in Westminster has consequences for the people in the area I am proud to represent and the most rewarding part of job is not the political cut and thrust of the green benches but what I can do to help my Constituents, which usually involves suspending politics and just getting on with the job.

Sometimes, the ‘wins’ can seem minor to all but the people involved – helping someone find a new house, get a passport or resolve a dispute – but occasionally they can bring benefit for thousands and this week’s news that the long-awaited vision of a Primary Care Centre for Devizes is now moving to implementation is one such example of this.

Even before I was elected in 2010 it was clear that the people of the Devizes Constituency had been totally short-changed by the incomprehensible decision of the former Primary Care Trust to shut all local minor injuries units and then refuse to deliver on a promise to build a new facility in Devizes. As I pledged in my first ever debate in the House of Commons on July 15, 2010, restoring these local health services and especially delivering a Primary Care Centre for Devizes has been my top local campaigning priority.

Since then I have been working with local hospitals, the new GP-led Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Devizes area GPs, Wiltshire Council, the Department of Health and dozens of local residents in Marlborough and Devizes to deliver on this promise.

Recently, we were able to welcome more services back into Savernake Hospital and now I am absolutely thrilled that we finally have a clear and funded plan for an Urgent Care Centre for Devizes to be built over the next two years.

This will include treatment for minor injuries as well as a host of other services and as the plan is for the new centre to be located off Marshall Road next to the Devizes Treatment Centre where there are great opportunities to share resources like X-ray services.

The Devizes area GPs, led by Dr Richard Sandford-Hill and the Clinical Commissioning Group have done an amazing job in developing the plans for the centre, and cross-party local support and the involvement of the Devizes Area Board has been key in keeping everyone focused on local healthcare needs.

It really is an exciting prospect and proof that focus, and cross party hard work, really can deliver results.