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Have Your Say: Endometriosis Care and the Women’s Health Strategy

Endometriosis is one of the least understood health conditions, yet it impacts the lives of far too many women.

Too many face long delays in diagnosis, limited support, and a lack of awareness about the condition across society. More must be done to improve understanding among the public, healthcare professionals, and in the workplace so that those affected receive the care, compassion, and support they deserve.

As your MP, I have been advocating on this issue for many years. Before the 2024 General Election, I worked as Shadow Minister for Women’s Health and Mental Health, where I consistently raised the importance of improving care, awareness, and outcomes for those living with endometriosis.

Now, with the Government preparing to introduce a new Women’s Health Strategy, it is vital that the voices and experiences of local people help shape what comes next.

I have already been grateful to speak with constituents living with endometriosis and to hear first-hand about their experiences, but I am keen to ensure that as many voices as possible are heard.

I am proud of the progress already being made on women’s health. This includes the announcement that menopause questions will be incorporated into the NHS Health Check, action to reduce gynaecology waiting lists for the first time in years with additional funding to tackle the backlog, and the introduction of Jess’s Rule so that GPs in England ‘think again’ when patients attend multiple times without a diagnosis or when symptoms worsen.

However, there is much more to do. We must ensure this new Women’s Health Strategy is as strong and ambitious as possible – not only for women today, but for future years and generations to come.

If you or someone you love has been affected by endometriosis, I would value hearing from you. Please take a few moments to complete the survey below and share your experiences, priorities, and ideas for change.

If you know others who may be interested in contributing, please do share this survey so their voices can be heard too.

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Response to the Autumn 2024 Budget

The Budget 2024

I am proud to support this Labour Government’s Autumn 2024 Budget, the first Labour Budget for over 14 years, which delivers on our promises of change for working people. It will fix the foundations of our economy, secure investment for the future, and begin the process of rebuilding Britain. It will also have a positive impact on our community here in Erith and Thamesmead.  

Delivered by the UK’s first female Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the Budget prioritised fixing Britain’s key public services, such as the NHS and our education system, and began the process of stabilising the broken economy left to us by the previous Conservative government. We also ensured that working people in communities like ours would not face higher taxes in their payslips, delivering on our manifesto promises not to increase VAT, national insurance or income tax on working people.  

The Chancellor highlighted that this Budget would turn the page on the last 14 years of economic decline, taking the tough decisions on spending and welfare by tackling fraud, tax avoidance and waste, and making sure that taxpayer’s money is spent efficiently and sets Britain up for future economic growth.  

Below are the key announcements from the Budget that I believe will bring positive benefits to the people of Erith and Thamesmead and the country:

  • Increasing the National Living Wage by nearly 7% – worth up to £1,400 for a full-time worker. 
  • Injecting an extra £25.6 billion for the NHS over two years to cut waiting lists. 
  • £2bn extra in NHS technology to improve Britain’s health services.  
  • No increase in Income tax, National Insurance or VAT for working people. 
  • Preserving the State Pension Triple Lock, with over 12 million pensioners gaining up to £475 next year. 
  • A 2.7% real terms increase to the Ministry of Defence’s budget to improve national security.  
  • Support for the recruitment of 6,500 teachers by increasing the Core Schools Budget by £2.3 billion next year.  
  • Abolishing the non-dom status.  
  • Maintaining the fuel duty freeze.  
  • £30 million to provide free breakfast clubs. 
  • £500 million investment to build 5,000 new social homes. 
  • Former mineworkers will receive £1.5 billion that was kept from their pension. 
  • The biggest increase to Carer’s Allowance eligibility since its introduction.  
  • £1 billion to help those facing financial hardship via the Household Support Fund.  
  • 40% relief on business rates, hospitality and leisure sectors. 
  • £500 million to fix local roads and fill a million potholes.  
  • Increase in the employment allowance to support small businesses.  
  • Cracking down on fraud, tax avoidance and waste.

I also spoke in person about how the Budget will impact the residents of Erith and Thamesmead, which you can watch here.

While I know there were tough decisions made, I fully support the Government’s commitment to delivering this needed investment in Britain’s future – fixing the NHS, protecting working families and rebuilding our country.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk

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First Cabinet Office Questions

Following my appointment as Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, I was pleased to answer questions at the first Cabinet Office Questions under the new Government.

I responded to important questions under my new brief, including strengthening our national resilience, learning the lessons for the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing ourselves for tragedies like the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.

Additionally, I confirmed that the Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will chair a Cabinet committee on resilience to review our preparedness against the range of risks the UK faces. You can find out more about this work here.

If you want to watch these Cabinet Office Questions then follow the link here, or if you would prefer to read the transcript, then follow the link here.

Social Media Post on 26th July 2024:

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Abena appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office

Following the election of a Labour Government on 4 July 2024, I am pleased to confirm that I have been appointed to the position of Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office.

In this role, I will work inside the Cabinet Office on cross-government delivery and implementation of the Government’s priorities. I’m pleased to be working under the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, The Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, and alongside other Cabinet Office Ministers including Ellie Reeves MP, The Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP and Georgia Gould MP.

I am deeply aware of what an immense responsibility it is to work in Government. I will work tirelessly to help deliver meaningful change and to improve the lives of working people and families up and down the country.

Social Media Posts:

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Abena sworn in as MP for Erith and Thamesmead

This week, I was honoured to be sworn into Parliament as the MP for Erith and Thamesmead for the second time.

I look forward to serving all the residents of our constituency throughout the course of this Parliament.

Thanks again to all those who supported my campaign.

Tweet on 11th July 2024:

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Recognised as one of the 100 Women in Westminster  

Every year, the Politics Home magazine recognises 100 Women in Westminster who are leading the way in politics and public life. It was an honour to be recognised as one of the hundred women making a difference, and to be selected amongst other women trailblazers. You can read more about this event here.  

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Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW)

It was important this month to mark Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW). In my role as Shadow Minister for Mental Health, I have been working hard on our plans to end the current mental health crisis and wrote about these issues in the New Statesman here. 

I was also pleased to attend the Mental Health Foundation’s reception in Parliament and to meet Mr Motivator and Jonny Wilkinson, both influential and positive voices promoting good mental health and the importance keeping active. 

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My Work in Parliament 

This March, I have been busy in Parliament raising constituent’s concerns and challenging the Government in my role as a Shadow Health Minister. 

At the beginning of the month, the Government announced the Spring Budget amidst the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis. At a time when so many people require urgent assistance with day-to-day living costs, it was disappointing to receive the Chancellor’s proposals which do very little for working people. Speaking to the media, I expressed my concerns and the need for a general election now.  

As well as this, during Health and Social Care Questions, I raised the pressing issue of record waiting lists for gynaecological treatment, with waiting numbers tripling since 2012. I asked the Minister what their long-term strategy is for dealing with this critical issue. You can watch my question here or read it here.  

It was also important to contribute to the Parliamentary debate on Health and Wellbeing services in Essex. Like many areas of Britain, Essex is experiencing extreme challenges in delivering adequate Healthcare provision. I outlined Labour’s plan to deliver more mental health support and cut waiting lists. 

I was also pleased to contribute to a vital debate during Eating Disorders Awareness Week. With over a million people in the UK are living with an eating disorder, sadly it is the cause of more loss of life than any other mental health condition. In the debate, I shared Labour’s bold Child Health Action Plan with the ambition for this to be the healthiest generation of children ever. 

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Abena appointed Shadow Minister for Women’s Health and Mental Health

I hope you will be pleased to know that I have recently accepted the position of Shadow Minister for Women’s Health and Mental Health. This is such an important role and these are issues that I’m really passionate about.

My main role as a Shadow Minister is scrutiny. I am committed to ensuring that the government is held accountable in legislative procedures and in ministerial conduct. This might include exploring government policy, finding its faults, and critiquing it. That being said, as an opposition minister I am part of a government in waiting. This means that I must ensure that Labour is ready for government in case of electoral victory, and ready to deliver our mission to build an NHS Fit for the Future.

I am pleased to say that Labour is committed to getting waiting lists down and getting people treated on time. We have a 10-year plan for change and modernisation and this will include one of the biggest expansions of the NHS workforce in history. But more than that, we plan to put individual care and mental health treatment at the heart of our mission. An issue that has for too long been in the shadows.

With Labour, more care will be delivered on your doorstep, out of the hospital and in the community. We will focus on prevention and a move towards transformational new technologies.

In my new role, I will be working with various charities and stakeholders, listening to experts in Women’s Health and Mental Health, and considering how Labour will do things differently. However, I will also be speaking to those working in our health and care sectors and the patients receiving care.

I’d love to see Women’s Health and Mental Health services transformed into something that the British people can be truly proud of. I want everybody to receive the support that they deserve, delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible.

It is Labour who has the plan and the mission to build a NHS Fit for the Future and there for you when you need it. I encourage you to take a quick look at Labour’s plans for health services, which you can read here: Building an NHS fit for the future.

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St Fidelis Primary School Visit to Parliament

On Wednesday 14th June, I had the pleasure of meeting Year 6 students from St. Fidelis Primary School. They visited the Houses of Parliament for a tour and to learn more about how our democracy functions.

I enjoyed being challenged by their tough questions on some of the important issues we face today. A special thanks also to the teachers at St. Fidelis for organising this visit.

You can see my social media post from the event below and here.

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