Good Evening john,

My newsletter includes reporting on massive investment at Hexham Hospital, youth unemployment down by 50%, tackling crime and antisocial behaviour in Haltwhistle, and ongoing support for Ukraine as we mark two years since Putin’s invasion. 

As ever, if you have an issue you would like to raise with me as your local Member of Parliament, please email me at: [email protected].
 

🏥 £15 million investment in Hexham Hospital

 

It was a pleasure to visit Hexham Hospital where £15 million of investment has truly transformed patient care, including a new state of the art maternity unit and expanded operating capacity. This means residents can receive quality local care.

As part of the investment, the hospital now boasts a brand-new maternity ward, equipped with a birthing pool featuring technology including LED lighting to help relax expectant mothers. A wider £326 million investment in Northumbria NHS Trust means that it regularly tops performance charts in England.

Last month, Northumbria NHS Trust was rated the best in England for A&E performance, ranked second for referral to treatment waiting times, and was placed in the top 10 for diagnostics.

Maternity care is something close to my heart it was to catch up again with the midwifery team, who are simply outstanding.

I also want to thank the new CEO of the Trust, Birju Bartoli, for sitting down with me to work on our shared priorities for ongoing investment in NHS services in Tynedale and Ponteland, and in particular, further expansion of services at Hexham Hospital.

👷‍♂️ Youth unemployment falls 50% and school standards at a record high 📚


Youth unemployment has fallen by 50% and wages are rising faster than inflation, meaning more investment in our local economy. 

New labour market figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that youth unemployment across Tynedale and Ponteland has fallen by nearly a half over the last 10 years. 

We have made incredible progress since I was elected in 2010. Thanks to initiatives like our annual Tynedale Jobs Fair, we have provided many high-quality jobs, including over 7,000 apprentices. As a result, youth unemployment has been halved since 2014. 

At the same time, wages are rising faster than inflation, with regular pay, excluding bonuses, rising by 5.8% between October and December 2023. 

Following a really tough time with the Covid pandemic and war in Ukraine, the economy is now starting to turn the corner, and people are beginning to feel the benefits. Employment is up, unemployment is down, inflation has been more than halved, and wage growth is strong. 

A good education for young people in Tynedale and Ponteland is key to unlocking opportunities in later life. Every high school has either been refurbished or rebuilt and 94% of schools are now rated as 'Good' or 'Outstanding' by Ofsted, up from 76% in 2017. As a result, young people are well-equipped to get a high-skilled, well-paid job when they leave school. 

I will continue to bang the drum for investment in our local area, so future generations can have the very best possible start when they enter the jobs market.
 

🚓 Progress on our plan to tackle crime in Haltwhistle


Guy is fighting for our fair share of Northumbria Police's 705 new officers so residents feel safe when they are out and about.

I joined representatives from Northumbria Police, Northumberland County Council, and Karbon Homes, local councillors and dozens of local people at a public meeting in Haltwhistle to discuss actions being taken to address crime and antisocial behaviour in the town. 

We are working to get our fair share of Northumbria Police's 705 new officers, more CCTV and lighting, better youth services, and tougher punishments for offenders, so local residents feel safe when they are out and about.

I am grateful to constituents who have helped police with their inquiries, either publicly or in private: we are collectively putting together a firm plan of action to improve Haltwhistle. There is much more to do, but I am pleased that progress has been made in recent weeks with high-profile drug busts.

📌 Ponteland Over 50s Fair to be held on Thursday 29 February



Our annual Over 50s Fair is once again coming to Ponteland, this time to be held at Ponteland Memorial Hall on Thursday 29 February. This is always one of the biggest days in the calendar. We had record attendance at the Over 50s Fair last year, but this year's will bigger and better. 

The Fair provides a brilliant opportunity for people in Ponteland and beyond to engage in their local community by joining a volunteering group, taking up a new hobby, learning a new skill, or finding a new job. 

Over 40 community groups will be in attendance, including local charities, volunteering organisations, hobby clubs, and employers. The event is free to attend and will be running from 10:00am - 14:00pm. The event is kindly sponsored by Newcastle International Airport. 

Whether you are looking to take up a new opportunity, or just fancy a friendly chat, I would encourage everyone to get involved and come down to the Memorial Hall on Thursday 29 February! 
 

🇺🇦🇬🇧 Two Years on from the invasion of Ukraine



Saturday marked the two-year anniversary since Putin’s appalling invasion of Ukraine.

I am incredibly proud of Northumberland's response to the war. People across the county have opened their arms to complete strangers fleeing war, and they continue to support them in the local community two years on.

I have been lucky enough to meet many Ukrainian guests who have resettled in our towns and villages. 

I am glad to support the Government’s decision to extend Ukrainian visa holders right to stay in our country for an additional 18 months, providing more certainty and stability for those who have been impacted. 

My thoughts were very much with our Ukrainian neighbours over the weekend. We must give Ukraine all we can to ensure they win the war. 

Slava Ukraini. 🇺🇦 🇬🇧

Guy Opperman MP

Member of Parliament for Tynedale and Ponteland