People often say no two days are the same in local journalism and that was certainly the case this week when I was given less than 24 hours notice to meet the Prime Minister and ask him a question on behalf of Bucks Free Press readers.

After receiving an email about an elusive ‘media huddle’ with Rishi Sunak planned for Milton Keynes Hospital this morning, I jumped at the opportunity to put a regionally-relevant question to the sitting Prime Minister.

Following a hectic morning of brainstorming, I set off to Milton Keynes more excited than apprehensive, curious about the response my question, based around the long waiting lists for urgent cancer treatment in Buckinghamshire, would elicit and, to a slightly lesser extent, what the experience would be like.

Would there be a media circus? Men in black suits with sunglasses whisking me off for a private audience with Mr Sunak?

It turns out, as is so often the case, that real life was not stranger than fiction and business seemed to be continuing as usual around the hospital. I was asked if I was dropping or picking up and, after some minor confusion, directed either to designated parking at the far end of the hospital or, if I was willing to pay for a ticket, to the nearest empty space.

Undeterred, I opted for the latter, disembarked and approached a couple of official-looking men standing by black range rovers near the hospital’s entrance. I had hit gold this time and was quickly ushered down a series of identical white corridors to a small consultation room where two other journalists were already waiting.

We proceeded to wait in the little room for around half an hour, exchanging names and anecdotes – the flurry of hospital staff and government aids around us only stoking my entwined apprehension and anticipation.

Eventually, we were led down another hospital corridor to a small conference room where, across a table of sliced fruit, coffee and croissants, Rishi Sunak, in his signature dress shirt and tie, sat alongside his government team and the MP for Milton Keynes South, Iain Stewart. All were friendly and the spirit of the room was conciliatory rather than intimidating.

READ MORE: Bucks hospital to build new ward for 21 extra beds

We were then told to, in turn, pose our singular question to the Prime Minister. Two fellow journalists, one from the BBC and the other from the Bucks Herald, respectively asked Mr Sunak about the Harben House Hotel in Newport Pagnell, which is set to become accommodation for asylum seekers, and the ongoing cross-sector worker strikes, many of which the Prime Minister asserted had been resolved via the acceptance of pay offers.

My opportunity for questioning came last – and took up the final three minutes of our ‘huddle’ time. I posed my query of whether Mr Sunak would advise Conservative voters in Buckinghamshire to choose private healthcare treatment over the NHS in the light of long waiting times in the county and felt the attention of the room settle on me, a sensation that was more exhilarating and less nerve-wracking than I thought it might be.

The Prime Minister gave a considered, if not entirely direct, response, citing the government’s investment into cancer diagnosis facilities as proof that the NHS was capable of handling the considerable backlog in treatments still hanging over from the Covid-19 pandemic.

As he finished speaking, his advisers triumphantly announced that we had kept the overall exchange to 10 minutes exactly and, after a stream of ‘goodbyes’ and ‘nice to meet yous’ the PM and his supporters had disappeared down yet another anonymous hospital corridor for a photo opportunity.

We reporters were walked a different route back by a hospital worker, where yet more handshakes and 'nice to meet yous' were to be had before we dispersed in search of the far-away bays where we had left our cars and, presumably, the Prime Minister headed back off to London.

Asking questions to the powers that be on behalf of our readers is one of the most important aspects of being a local journalist. While we can't always guarantee straight answers, we do have the power to start conversations, a duty that shouldn't be taken lightly.

Time will tell of the pertinence of the Prime Minister's response, which you can read in full here, but by visiting Buckinghamshire today and giving the newspaper an opportunity to hold the government to account - albeit in a highly controlled manner - he is signalling a refreshing change to previous administrations, who have woefully overlooked the vital role of the regional press.