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February 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Thank you for taking the time to look at my monthly newsletter for February 2025.

I hope you enjoy this update on some of the work I have been doing in Erith and Thamesmead and in Parliament over the last month.

As ever, if you want to get in touch, don’t hesitate to contact me using the email address: abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk

Abena

Government’s ‘Plan for Change’

This month, I wanted to highlight some of the vital actions being taken by the Government that will make a real difference for Erith and Thamesmead residents.

Fixing our NHS remains a top priority, and I’m pleased to see that the extra 2 million NHS appointments promised by the Prime Minister has already been achieved seven months early. We must build on this progress to create an NHS truly fit for the future.

This month, the Government has also stepped-up efforts to expand social and affordable housing, a key issue for our community. Ministers announced a £350 million boost to drive construction, alongside measures to improve standards and crack down on rogue landlords in supported housing.

Additionally, the Chancellor has recently announced new measures to kick start the economy and put more money in people’s pockets. I back her belief in Britain’s potential and her refusal to accept a low growth future. I look forward to these projects creating a brighter future for the country and here in Erith and Thamesmead.

While tough decisions have been necessary, I hope you agree that this Government is making real progress on these and many other issues to deliver the change agenda the country voted for last year.

Greenwich Holocaust Memorial Day Event

I was honoured to attend the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration. It was a poignant reminder to remember the past and stand against hatred. Grateful for the chance to reflect and pay tribute.

Visit to St Margaret Clitherow Primary School

It was a pleasure to be able to visit St Margaret Citherow Primary school in Thamesmead. Firstly, I thanked the students for their lovely designs for my recent Christmas Card Competition. I then had a mini-Interview with two of the runners up, Michelle and Arielle, who fired questions at me about my role in politics. I also asked what inspired their designs, and they shared that the beautiful scenery in our constituency was their main inspiration.

It was great to also join the Key Stage 2 assembly whereby the students asked about my role as their MP and my political journey. Lastly, I was taken on a lovely tour of the school by the Head Girl, Claire, and the Head Boy, Jimi.

Walkabout with Greenwich Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team

It was important to recently join a walkabout with the Thamesmead Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT). It was insightful to see and hear firsthand how they deal with the challenges of policing in the local area. What stood out as especially valuable was observing how they cooperate with local schools to ensure a safe dispersal at the end of the school day – making sure the area is kept safe for the students and residents.

It is important we continue to restore trust in our police and crack down on all forms of crime.

Re-opening of Woodlands Farm Trust Education Centre

It was a pleasure to attend the relaunch of education classes at the Vaughan Mills Education Centre on Woodlands Farm, alongside Shooters Hill Councillors, Ivis Williams and Raja Zeeshan and the respective Mayors for Greenwich and Bexley.

I saw the fantastic nature on offer at the Farm on our tour led by Dr Barry Gray, chairman of the Woodlands Farm Trust. It is imperative more young people get outside and enjoy the great green spaces available to them in our constituency.

Ministerial work in the Cabinet Office

This month, I’ve been excited to continue my work in the Cabinet Office. I’ve had the privilege of visiting various teams across the country, each doing incredible work in their areas of expertise.

I began the month with an important visit to the University of Glasgow’s Advanced Research Centre to speak to them about their groundbreaking quantum research and the Government’s investment in the sector to build a more resilient Britain.

Following this, it was great to spend time with the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum (LRF), alongside fellow Minister Alex Norris, responsible for Local Growth and Building Safety. I was very impressed to see how the LRF Innovation Fund is driving projects that boost public preparedness and resilience. It was also good to visit the Waddington Fire & Rescue Training Centre, where teams master crisis response skills.

Lastly, it was a pleasure to open this February’s Local Resilience Forum Chairs’ Conference in Birmingham. During the event, I had the opportunity to engage with local resilience leaders from across the UK to discuss and identify key priorities for ensuring the safety of our communities.

Furthermore:

  • Visit to Parliament by Trinity School, Belvedere – Great to see their Year 11 GCSE Citizenship Studies class had a great visit to the Houses of Parliament, including meeting my Parliamentary team and visiting 10 Downing Street!
  • Visit to Parliament by St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School – Lovely to hear about their students’ visit to Parliament, including a tour, an Education Centre session as well as taking the time to raise some important local issues with me.  
  • New Location for Plumstead Post Office – In case you missed it, the Plumstead Post Office has reopened across the road at 7 Brewery Road. I know how vital the Post Office is to our community so I’m glad to see a smooth transition from the old location.
  • Knife Amnesty Bins – Important to see knife amnesty bins installed in our community by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. One is in Abbey Wood at the back of the Old Council Office.
  • Children’s Mental Health Week 2025 – This month I supported Place2Be’s important work marking Children’s Mental Health Week 2025. Find out more here.
  • National Apprenticeship Week – Good to see the Government going further and faster to support apprentices nationwide with up to 10,000 more places per year.
  • Time to Talk Day 2025 – This day gives us all a chance to get comfortable and start talking about mental health. Find out more here.
  • LGBT+ History Month – Glad to celebrate the heritage and contributions of LGBT+ communities in our local area and across the country this month.
  • Hearts Unions Week – Pleased to celebrate all the work unions do to make our workplaces fairer and stronger during this recognition week.

Stay updated on social media

For regular updates on my activities, follow me on Twitter (@abenaopp), Facebook (Abena Oppong-Asare MP, Erith and Thamesmead), and Instagram (abena.oppongasare.mp).

You can also sign up to my digital newsletter at www.abenaoppongasare.com/get_in_touch

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Abena welcomes the Government’s plan to cut backlog of over 100,000 patients in South East London waiting over 18-weeks for NHS treatment

Patients in Erith and Thamesmead will be able to access more appointments closer to home and get the treatment they need faster under a new plan to tackle hospital backlogs set out by the Prime Minister earlier this month.

In London, nearly half a million people – 476,131 in total – have been on waiting lists for more than 18 weeks, including an alarming 103,210 people within the NHS South East London ICB, causing a significant impact on their health.

Addressing the 7.5 million-strong waiting list inherited by the government, and ensuring the NHS once again meets the 18-week standard for planned treatment, is a crucial milestone in the government’s Plan for Change.

Restoring this 18-week standard will mean patients in Erith and Thamesmead no longer have their lives put at risk or on hold – instead getting the treatment they need when they need it.

At the moment, too many patients face long waits for appointments or surgeries and may be referred to hospitals they don’t choose at inconvenient times, while appointments and staff time are being lost to inefficiencies or inconsistencies in care.  

The Labour Government’s Elective Reform Plan, published this month by NHS England, sets out a whole system approach to hitting the 18-week referral to treatment target by the end of this Parliament.

This includes opening Community Diagnostic Centres on evenings and weekends so that many more people will be able to access tests and checks while going about their daily lives.

The NHS will also increase the number of surgical hubs, which will help protect planned care from the impact of winter pressures and will cut waiting lists for standard surgeries, in turn freeing up beds in acute wards. 

The plan will drive forward progress on the government’s first steps commitment to deliver 2 million extra appointments in its first year, equivalent to 40,000 every week. The reforms will put patients first, harness technology to support staff and help the NHS to do things more efficiently.

Under the plan, 65% of patients will be treated within 18 weeks by the end of next year. Based on the size of the current waiting list, that would mean a fall of more than 450,000 people waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment.

After 14 years of decline, these plans will ensure that NHS patients and the people of South East London – and across the country – will at last have access to the timely treatment they need and deserve, while NHS staff will once again be able to deliver the high standard of care they are so deeply committed to providing.

Abena Oppong-Asare, Member of Parliament for Erith and Thamesmead said:

“Too many residents in our community of Erith and Thamesmead and South East London are stuck on the record long waiting lists inherited by this Labour Government at huge cost to their health.

“That’s why the reforms announced this month to cut NHS waiting times from 18 months to 18 weeks will make such a huge difference. With so many people waiting for treatment, it is more urgent than ever that we reform our NHS so it will always be there for you when you need it.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“This Government promised change and that is what I am fighting every day to deliver.

“NHS backlogs have ballooned in recent years, leaving millions of patients languishing on waiting lists, often in pain or fear. Lives on hold. Potential unfulfilled.

“This elective reform plan will deliver on our promise to end the backlogs. Millions more appointments. Greater choice and convenience for patients. Staff once again able to give the standard of care they desperately want to.

“This is a key plank of our Plan for Change, which will drive growth that puts more money in people’s pockets, secures our borders and makes the NHS fit for the future so what working people live longer, healthier, more prosperous lives.”

The Elective Reform Plan was published by NHS England on Monday 6th January: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/reforming-elective-care-for-patients/

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Families and new parents in Greenwich to receive early years support says Abena Oppong-Asare MP

Families and children in Erith and Thamesmead will be able to access early years support such as pregnancy support, infant feeding advice, parenting classes and other support to give their child the best start in life, following a £126 million Government funding boost – delivering on the Labour’s Plan for Change.

Greenwich is expected to receive at least £1,472,500 as part of the wider investment increase.

Children’s early years are crucial to their development, health and life chances. Antenatal classes, health visitors, parenting support, baby and toddler groups and access to affordable, high-quality early education and childcare – all are vital to guiding parents and supporting child development. Yet over 80% of parents have said they struggled to access services.

As part of our Plan for Change we’re committed to strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood and improve long term outcomes for children – including through today’s investment in Family Hubs and the Start for Life programme.

Abena Oppong-Asare, Member of Parliament for Erith and Thamesmead said:

“I am absolutely delighted that families and children in Erith and Thamesmead will be able to access early years support through this funding boost from the Government.

“Families in Erith and Thamesmead elected a Labour government to give every child the best possible start in life, and that is what we’re delivering.

“This will make such a huge difference for so many families in our community and I know that the impact will be felt for years to come.”

Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said:

“This crucial investment provides a strong foundation to deliver our commitment to raise the healthiest generation of children ever, by giving parents the support they need to ensure their baby has the best start in life.

“The first two years of a child’s life lay the building blocks for their physical and emotional wellbeing into adulthood. That’s why we are investing in early years, as part of our Plan for Change, to improve access to services in deprived areas to ensure no-one is left behind.”

For more information see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/families-to-receive-126-million-in-early-years-support

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Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice Visit

I am honoured to be a patron of the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice. So I was delighted that the Hospice was one of my first visits since my re-election. This year marks the Hospice’s 30th anniversary and they have been recognising everyone who has helped them get to this point.  

Following the visit, I have also been excited to see the new branding for the Community Hospice, who do so much for residents in our constituency and across Greenwich and Bexley. You can see their new brand on their website here: https://communityhospice.org.uk/.

On social media, I was pleased to congratulate the Hospice team and their CEO Kate Heaps, who’ve been working so hard to make sure the great work at the hospice continues.

Social Media Post on 1st August 2024:

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Visit to Greenwich Mental Health Hub with Mind

It was great to visit the Plumstead Health Centre this month and meet all the lovely and hardworking staff at South East London Mind. You can find out more about their work here. 

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Speaking at NHS Confederation’s Annual Mental Health Conference

Many thanks to NHS Confederation for inviting me to speak to their annual Mental Health Conference in Leeds on the urgent need to invest in our mental health services.

It was also important to learn about the innovative approaches taken at Leeds Synergi to tackle ethnic inequalities in mental health.  

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One Voice Roundtable  

This month, I was pleased to speak with health professionals and charities from One Voice to discuss collaboration on key issues including pregnancy, maternity, neonatal care, and early years services. 

I was joined by representatives from the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Sands and many other important organisations. I found hearing suggestions on how to improve the accessibility and quality of care for mothers particularly interesting and I look forward to continuing this important conversation.  

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Black Maternal Health Conference Speech and my visit with Anneliese Dodds MP  

This month, I had the opportunity to give the Keynote speech at the Black Maternal Health Conference hosted by the Motherhood Group.  

In my speech, I spoke about how we can and must improve Black maternal health. Most importantly, I spoke about the shockingly high rates of maternal mortality and the stark disparities that mean Black and Asian mothers are much more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth.  

I was also pleased to join the Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, Anneliese Dodds MP, in a visit to the Motherhood Group’s community hub to hear from new mothers directly. The stories we heard were truly shocking. Some mothers are too terrified to have another baby and others are just happy to be alive. 

Unfortunately, earlier this year, we found out that the Government’s Maternity Disparities Taskforce met just twice last year. In contrast, I’m pleased that Labour have committed to set targets to close the maternal mortality gap.  

You can read more about our plans here. 

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UNISON’S National Women’s Conference

I was honoured to be invited to deliver a keynote speech at UNISON’s National Women’s Conference, where the pivotal theme centred on women’s health in the workplace.

Throughout the conference, we engaged in profound discussions surrounding the specific needs of women employees, particularly concerning conditions like endometriosis, menopause, and menstruation. It was evident that when these crucial aspects of women’s health are overlooked by employers, it significantly impacts workplace well-being.

One of the significant motions passed during the conference was aimed at enhancing maternity care for Black women, who unfortunately face heightened risks of miscarriage or maternal mortality. This issue underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to address healthcare disparities and ensure equitable access to quality care for all women.

During my address, I shed light on the systemic racism that women of colour encounter when seeking healthcare services. Additionally, I emphasised the imperative for employers to recognise and accommodate menopause as a crucial aspect of women’s health in the workplace.

Women’s health demands prioritisation at all levels of governance. Unfortunately, far too often, the needs of women have been side-lined. However, I firmly believe that it’s time for a transformative shift.

In my speech, I articulated Labour’s unwavering commitment to reinvigorating the NHS to make it truly inclusive and responsive to the diverse health needs of women. Our vision entails not only addressing existing inequities but also eradicating systemic racism within healthcare systems and instituting frameworks that prioritise women’s health needs.

Now more than ever, we must rally behind the fundamental principle of a NHS that is universally accessible and free at the point of use, ensuring that every individual, regardless of gender or background, receives the care they deserve.

You can read more about the conference and my speech here and read about an interview I did with UNISON here.

Let’s continue our collective efforts to champion women’s health and build a future where every woman can thrive.

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Visit to London South East Colleges

It was fantastic to visit the London South East London Colleges Bexley campus this month. I had an insightful discussion with the CEO and Student Union President, as well as a tour of the college’s impressive facilities. 

It is so important that we hear directly from young people on their experiences with mental health, which is why I was very pleased to have been able to have a roundtable discussion with students from the College. 

We know that our child and adolescent mental health services are in a severe state of crisis, with the number of children and young people undergoing treatment or waiting to start care having reached new records. That’s why Labour will recruit thousands more mental health staff to cut waiting lists and ensure more people can access treatment alongside creating an open-access mental health hub for children and young people in every community. 

My visit only reaffirms my commitment to championing our colleges, empowering our teachers, and providing every student with the tools they need to succeed. I look forward to working with the College in future to support the talents and aspirations of the young people in Erith and Thamesmead.