And, increasing broadband rollout, recognising Community Champions, and increasing the State Pension.

Good Evening john,

This week’s newsletter includes reporting on record funding for Hexham General Hospital, Gigabit Broadband rollout in Barrasford and the surrounding villages, recognising local Community Champions, and the Government’s unwavering commitment to pensioners.

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].

🩺 Phase 2 of Hexham General Hospital’s multi-million pound upgrade

Last week, I visited hardworking staff at Hexham General Hospital as work is carried out at pace to deliver phase 2 of the £15 million expansion programme.

Phase 2 of the programme, funded by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s wider investment package, will provide new spaces for Dentistry, Endoscopy and Oncology with Operating Theatres delivered in the third and final phase. All works are expected to be completed in 2025.

Phase 1 of the expansion programme saw the transformation of an existing ICU into a new Maternity Department with reception, staff base, two flexible rooms, birthing pool, and associated spaces all designed to create a calm and therapeutic environment. The new facilities were officially opened in June last year.

Once up and running, the planned facilities will be truly transformational and will further cement the trust’s status as one of the top performing healthcare providers in the country. My thanks as ever go to the incredible doctors, nurses and wider NHS team who make all of this possible.

📞 Gigabit Broadband rollout in Barrasford

I am determined that everyone, no matter now rural they live, or however hard to reach, has access to ultra fast gigabit broadband.

I have been banging the drum for our area in Westminster for a faster rollout of broadband in our towns and villages.

I recently met with the CEO of B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North)in the House of Commons to hear about the latest project connecting Barrasford and the surrounding areas.

Last week, I joined B4RN and the community teams on the ground in Barrasford to see for myself the difference ultra fast broadband is making to many households who have taken advantage of the rollout of the programme.

The works are continuing in the coming months, with more than 250 local households already requesting a connection.

This scheme is only possible thanks to the incredible generosity of a £66,000 grant from local business Vattenfall.

🏆 Ovingham Chat Club Awarded Community Champion Awards


It was a real privilege to award four local ladies my Community Champion Award for running a local Chat Club for the over 60s at Ovingham Village Hall.

It was an absolute pleasure to attend one of the weekly meetings of the Chat Club myself, as part of their Easter celebrations.

The ladies who run it, Hazel, Kath, Judy, and Marion are simply outstanding and their love and passion for what they do for their community is clear to see.

Well done to all those involved for putting on a programme that is so cherished by local people.

The Chat Club is held in the Reading Room of the Village Hall every Thursday at 10:15am - please do go along and show your support if you can.

If you know of anyone worthy of a Community Champion award, please let me know by emailing me at [email protected]

Our unwavering commitment to pensioners


Finally, good news for pensioners in Tynedale and Ponteland as the Government’s Triple Lock guarantee for the State Pension comes into effect.

Today, the basic State Pension will increase by 8.5%, equivalent to an extra £900 for pensioners in Northumberland.

Since the Conservative-led Government implemented the Triple Lock guarantee for older people in 2011, pensioners are £1000 a year better off than they would have been under Labour.

This year’s uprating comes after the State Pension was increased by a record 10.1% last year to support vulnerable households with the cost of living.

I am incredibly proud of successive Conservative Governments and their unwavering commitment to support pensioner households.
To report any potholes or raise a local issue, click here to complete my online survey ([link removed])

Guy Opperman MP

Member of Parliament for Tynedale and Ponteland

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