Before becoming your Member of Parliament in 2019, I was a GP across the Midlands. I believe there are a lot of similarities between a good local MP and a good GP – you have to communicate clearly and effectively, you have to be able to deal with complex information and make decisions, and you have to problem solve. Above all, however, you have to care about the people you look after, and work hard to earn their respect.
My father was a GP and my mother a nurse, so discussions around medicine were a common theme in our house from an early age! Through their work, both of my parents were dedicated to wanting to help people. Given that my two brothers and I have all gone into medicine, it's safe to say their commitment to the community had an impression on us!
Training as a junior doctor truly tests both your perseverance, and your commitment to the job. It was without doubt one of the most difficult, but proudest, periods of my career. Despite the difficulties (and, at times, sheer terror!), the profound difference you can make to a patient’s life is a real privilege.
My wife Charlie and I met while studying medicine in Birmingham, and in May 2019 we got married at a beautiful spot near Kidderminster. Charlie grew up in the Midlands and is also a GP herself.
Since we moved to Newbold Verdon our family has doubled with the addition of our two mischievous whippets, Ada and Roux.
Since becoming an MP I’ve developed a number of policy interests, and have been campaigning on body image and growing anabolic steroid use, support for our farmers, protections for local planning and infrastructure, and ways to improve the NHS for patients and staff.
Training and working in the NHS has shown me not only the very best of our health system, but also ways we can improve and innovate for the future. Being elected onto the Health and Social Care Committee at the start of 2020 was a real privilege, especially given its prominence during the pandemic.
In November 2024 I was honoured to be made Shadow Minister for Health, using my experience in the NHS, as a GP and from being on the Health Select Committee to make frequent representations to the Government so that we can improve healthcare both locally and nationally.
It's been really humbling to have been awarded Newcomer MP of the Year in 2020, named Conservative MP of the Year in 2023 and nominated for Parliamentary Campaigner of the Year 2024 for my 'Buy British' button campaign.
Locally some of my proudest achievements to date have been securing £24 million for the Community Diagnostic Centre and £10m for a Day Case Unit at Hinckley Hospital, £19.9m for a National Science and Conservation Centre at Twycross Zoo, campaigning for the new Labour Government to re-commit to funding for two new hospitals in Leicester, and securing funding and Government support for Hinckley School which was recently rated 'Good' by Ofsted.
Serving the people of Hinckley and Bosworth is undoubtedly the privilege of a lifetime.