The independent candidate for Islington North, Jeremy Corbyn

• I AM an Islington North resident and writing to add to the substantial collection of powerful letters in support of the independent candidate for Islington North – and our MP of the past 41 years – Jeremy Corbyn.

As a retired GP who for 29 years looked after patients from Camden and Islington, I saw what a stark difference having Corbyn as MP made for my patients living in Islington North.

I have seen first-hand the vital work he does for his constituents, especially the more vulnerable. Many patients have come through my consultation room and recounted the differences he has made to their lives through his tireless work taking up casework on housing problems, immigration, social care, etc.

I doubt there is an MP more committed to the individual care of his constituents.

On a larger scale we need an MP who understands the vital importance of, and campaigns for our National Health Service to be fully publicly funded and publicly delivered, something he has always campaigned for.

Corbyn recognises the link between social inequality and health and the negative effects of austerity and privatisation.

While patients cannot access the care they need and deserve, NHS staff are working ever longer and more stressful hours and suffering the moral injury of being unable to provide care to the level they wish and is needed.

I’m deeply disappointed the Labour candidate, who promotes private health and privatisation of the NHS, did not find it sufficiently important to attend a local health care hustings so we could hear his views and promises on this vital topic.

I believe Corbyn is the only candidate we can trust to support our NHS.

The people of Islington North need him to continue to represent us. Please join me in voting for Corbyn on July 4.

DR AZHAR MALIK, N19