January 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Thank you for taking the time to look at my monthly newsletter for January 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

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2025

I hope everyone in Erith and Thamesmead had a nice Christmas period, and I wish you all the very best for the year ahead.

It’s clear that our community and the entire country face significant challenges. However, as we start this year, I firmly believe in the Government’s “Plan for Change,” which is focused on tackling the key issues affecting working people and families.

This plan seeks to build 1.5 million new homes; provide better education for our children; dramatically reduce NHS waiting lists; get immigration under control; place neighbourhood police in every community; and deliver a stronger economy, with higher take-home pay for all.

I’m confident that in 2025 we will make meaningful progress toward delivering on this change agenda that the country voted for in last year’s election, and so urgently needs.

Bexley Tigers Basketball Club Visit

It was lovely to visit the Bexley Tigers Basketball Club at Trinity School, Belvedere and speak to the coaches, parents and players. I was very impressed with their basketball talents – they even trained me well enough to shoot my first ever hoop!

I am committed to ensuring clubs like this can continue to thrive – providing our kids a safe space to remain active and have a sense of community.

Christmas Card Competition 2024

It was nice to end 2024 with my annual Christmas Card Competition. This year’s theme was “What Makes Erith and Thamesmead a fun place”. I would like to thank all the artful local students, their teachers and parents for making this year’s competition happen.

The winner this year was Vera, aged 10, from St Thomas a Becket Primary School. You can see her brilliant design attached – showcasing the fish roundabout in Erith. You can also find out more on my website.

Open Doors World Watch List Reception

Great to attend this important Parliamentary reception with Open Doors and listen to several insightful speakers on this crucial issue. It is vital that we shine a light on global religious persecution. Thanks to all the constituents who reached out to me on this topic – I will continue to follow developments closely.

Israel-Hamas ceasefire

After over a year of devastating conflict, I’m thankful to see a ceasefire deal announced this month that will both end the fighting and bring overdue relief to the hostages, their families and the millions suffering in Gaza.

This is a huge step forward towards securing a permanent ceasefire that will provide a safe and stable future for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. I’m glad the Government has worked hard to make this progress possible, and I look forward to their continued pressure on all sides to bring long-term peace to the region.

Ministerial work in the Cabinet Office

It’s been a busy new year as a Minister in the Cabinet Office as we work hard to deliver on the Prime Minister’s “Plan for Change” agenda.

I started the month responding to a Westminster Hall debate on National resilience and preparedness. I reiterated that this Government’s main priority is keeping the country safe. Whether it’s cyber security, flooding, biosecurity or any other threat we face, I was clear that national resilience has been at the top of our agenda. You can watch my speech here or read it here.

This month, the Cabinet Office also released the Government’s first response to the Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 Report. This was an important step toward making sure lessons are learnt from Covid and we are better prepared for the next pandemic. You can read the response here

It was also important to participate in the first Lead Ministers for Disability meeting. We discussed the Disability Unit’s work in breaking down barriers faced by disabled people in the UK, as well as putting disabled people’s views and voices at the heart of our decisions. You can see more about this meeting here.

Furthermore:

  • Woolwich Polytechnic School Visit to Parliament – Great to welcome these energetic students to Parliament to better learn about how their democracy works.
  • Celebration of the life and work of Nicky Gavron – Honoured to attend this memorial reflecting on Nicky’s remarkable contributions to politics, the environment, and the people of London.
  • Congratulations London South East Colleges (LSEC) – Congratulations to LSEC on being accepted to the UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador Programme.
  • Renters’ Rights Bill – Great to see the Renters’ Rights Bill complete its third reading in the House of Commons. We are a step closer to fixing our broken rental system.
  • Early Years Support for Greenwich – Delighted that local families will benefit from a £126m Government funding boost, with over £1m going to families in Greenwich!
  • Emergency Homelessness funding – I’m pleased the Government has taken urgent action to increase support for those in need, including safe and secure warm beds.
  • Bringing back the family doctor – This month, I’m thrilled to welcome Government plans to bring back the family doctor and end the 8am scramble for appointments.
  • Holocaust Memorial Day – Pleased to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day this year by signing the Holocaust Education Trust Book of Commitment in Parliament and attending the Holocaust Memorial Commemoration event in Downing Street.
  • Cervical Cancer Prevention Week – Important to mark this awareness week.Cervical screening can help stop cancer before it starts, so don’t ignore your invite.
  • Happy Thai Pongal to the Tamil Community – Best wishes to all those in Erith and Thamesmead celebrating Thai Pongal. Thanks also for all you do in the community.
  • Happy Orthodox Christmas and New Year – Happy festivities to all those celebrating Orthodox Christmas and New Year in Erith and Thamesmead this month.

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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Holocaust Memorial Day 2025

Today marks the anniversary of National Holocaust Memorial Day. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi Concentration Camps in Europe. It is pertinent that we reflect today on the tragedy that was the Holocaust and continue to remember the innocent lives that were taken. 

This month, I signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment and pledge to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered in the Holocaust and speak out against all forms of antisemitism.


Photo of Abena Oppong-Asare MP signing the Book of Commitment:


Social Media post by Abena Oppong-Asare MP commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day 2025:

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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