The understands Dr Poulter told close colleagues about his decision shortly before it was made public. One said it was a shock and they were still trying to process the news.
Dr Poulter, who has made no secret of also working as a doctor, told the that he was finding it “increasingly difficult” to look patients and his constituents in the eye.
“I think the NHS deserves better,” he said
“The party I was elected into valued public services. I think the Conservative Party today is in a differently place. Its focus is not on delivering high-quality public services.”
Tom Hunt, the Conservative MP for Ipswich, told the that the news “has come as a bolt out of the blue and bearing in mind his previous critical comments about the Labour Party this is clearly surprising”.
Thérèse Coffey, the MP for Suffolk Coastal, said: “With NHS funding at a record high, I’m surprised that Dr Poulter has jumped ship from a Conservative government that has been prioritising patients.”