January 18, 2018 3.02 pm This story is over 81 months old

Lincoln MP and nurse Karen Lee admits in front of Jeremy Corbyn she has gone home and cried at state of NHS

The Labour leader in Lincoln.

Lincoln MP Karen Lee has told her party leader Jeremy Corbyn that she has gone home and cried many times after a nursing shift at the city’s hospital, claiming that the NHS is in crisis due to pressures on overstretched staff.

The Leader of the Opposition visited Lincoln on Thursday, January 18 to meet East Midlands Ambulance Service workers and staff working inside the A&E department at Lincoln County Hospital.

However, when speaking to reporters, the Lincoln MP admitted in front of him that she has broken down after a day working as nurse, feeling that the strain was so great she was unable to properly care for patients.

Karen Lee said: “Nobody wants to go home feeling that they have failed people.

“I’ve gone home and cried many times, the strain is so great.

“The NHS is in crisis and it needs addressing.”

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The Labour leader was also quizzed by The Lincolnite on whether the planned closure of the Lincoln Walk-In-Centre was having an impact on A&E pressures in the county.

NHS bosses have already agreed to close the centre at the end of the winter period, despite vociferous objections from thousands of residents.

Jeremy Corbyn said: “Closing the walk-in-centre must have an impact.

“A walk-in-centre as I know from my own local hospital, an ambulatory care centre, and an urgent care centre on the same site as an A&E department makes an awful big difference because it reduces the pressure.”

Karen Lee added: “I’m opposed to the closure of the walk-in-centre.

“94% of people didn’t want it to close and yet it’s still going to close.

“I’ve been assured that there will be more GP appointments but I’d like to know that that was in place before any closure happened.

“At the moment, I’m not convinced of that.”