THE NHS is expected to be the big issue at next year’s Assembly elections.

Concerns have been raised about a range of issues, including waiting times for treatment in hospital and at the GP surgery.

I was in my doctor’s surgery for a check-up recently and noticed that there had been 300 missed appointments.

If this is replicated across the south-east region, there are likely to be many thousands of appointments missed.

While there may be a financial impact on the NHS, patients who don’t turn up for an appointment, whether in hospital or at the local surgery, are effectively delaying someone else’s treatment.

People need to take some responsibility and if they are unable to attend for whatever reason they should contact the surgery or hospital well in advance, if possible. This will give the GP or hospital a chance to allocate that time for another patient.

I also believe that hospitals and GPs could also help improve the situation by reminding patients by text or even a phone call that, for instance, their appointment is due the following day.

Text is widely used by many companies such as mobile phone or power companies to tell consumers that their latest monthly bill can be viewed. Even schools use texts to contact parents,so it may provide an opportunity to reduced unnecessary missed appointments.

Gwent Levels

While the Assembly has been in recess, I took the opportunity to visit the impressive Gwent Levels.

I’m still receiving letters from constituents across the south-east urging me to continue campaigning for the Levels to be protected and calling for the proposed M4 Relief Road to be scrapped.

It would be disastrous for the Levels if this scheme went ahead, as well as blowing more than £1bn by the time it is built.

The Welsh Labour Government needs to announce quickly that it is axing the scheme and, instead, look to adopt a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative.

Leanne Wood

It was great to see that on the first day of Plaid Cymru’s launch of its 'Road Map for Wales' - a policy consultation outlining ambitious plans to form the next Welsh Government – party leader Leanne Wood was in Newport.

Leanne made it clear that Plaid’s aim was to reverse Wales' fortunes, saving the NHS, improving outcomes at schools and generating wealth and jobs in the Welsh economy. These will be the key planks of the party’s campaign over the next eight months.