The Hear My Voice project is a nationwide push from charity Mencap to get politicians to listen to people’s needs and last Friday Reading East MP Rob Wilson met with residents for a question-and-answer session where they could raise their concerns.

Access to campaign literature, consistency in health services and lack of clarity in changes to the benefits system were among the topics at hand as Mr Wilson met with the group at The Hexagon.

Members of locally based group Talkback quizzed Mr Wilson over the main issues they wanted to see addressed and the ease of getting back into work was one of the top questions.

Wayne Turnball, 47, of Southcote, said: “There are people like me looking for work and I am told I have to use my dole money to travel to interviews which can cost up to £50. That is most of my dole money.

“Why can’t you [the Government] set up a fund for people who are unemployed and willing to work so they can travel to interviews rather than take it from their benefits?”

Many at the session last week also told Mr Wilson of the difficulty of finding a regular GP, with one person explaining how a mix-up with a doctor who did not know him personally ended in him leaving the surgery unsure about which medication he was supposed to be taking.

A lack of training among GPs in how to work with patients with learning difficulties also came up, with Mr Wilson stating that a personalised service would also help out.

He said: “Training is one thing but really understanding and having that personal relationship is important which is why we need to get back to a named doctor system.”