Retired car worker Alfred Manuell welcomed Shadow Health Secretary Liam Fox to his Kidlington home after facing a nine-month wait for treatment on the National Health Service.

Mr Manuell, 62, who lives with his wife Barbara, 55, in Waverley Avenue, first contacted his GP last month about a possible stomach hernia - and was told he wouldn't be able to see a hospital consultant until December.

Alfred Manuell shows Liam Fox his correspondence with the NHS

But on the day of Dr Fox's visit, Mr Manuell heard from hospital staff again, and was told that they would try to get him an emergency appointment in the next seven days.

Mr Manuell said: "I may need an operation but I won't know that until I have been seen at the hospital. I think nine months is too long to wait.

"I am not convinced Labour is doing enough for the health service and I am considering voting Conservative.

"It's not every day that an MP visits your home, and I appreciate Dr Fox coming along."

Mr Manuell, who has two daughters, Alison, 31, and Laura, 26, and two grandchildren, took redundancy last year from Rover when the firm was taken over by BMW.

He needed ten operations for bowel cancer 12 years ago and fears the lump in his stomach may be linked.

"Given my medical background, I think it is quite urgent that I see a consultant at the earliest possible opportunity," he said.

Dr Fox, a former GP, said: "My instincts as a doctor would have been to get Mr Manuell an appointment fast because of his medical history. I'm pleased that now appears to be in hand.

"Labour have been too obsessed with health stat- istics, not the clinical outcome for patients.

"The Conservatives will ensure that the sickest patients are treated first."

Mr Manuell lives in the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency, where the Tory candidate is Ed Matts. Gill Kirk is standing for Labour, while Dr Evan Harris is defending the seat for the Liberal Democrats.

In the past, Mr Manuell has voted Labour.

The seat is also being contested by Marcus Watney from the UK Independence Party, Sigrid Shreeve, of No Spin, and Mike Woodin for the Greens.