Page 30 - Demo

30 Phonebox Magazine | October 2024I would like to start this month%u2019s column by congratulating everyone who has been involved with the launch of the Olney Youth Club, particularly Olney Mayor, Cllr Debbie Whitworth. This project has been planned for months, and many people have been working around the clock to make it happen. The club is such a valuable resource and asset to Olney, providing a safe environment with lots of new experiences and projects to get involved with. I look forward to returning in the coming months to see what the club gets up to.Summer WrapSince being elected in July, I have been able to attend many of the brilliant community events and festivals that are organised across the Milton Keynes North constituency. From the opening of the Youth Club in Olney and the Hive Centre in Whitehouse to the Stony Stratford Harvest Show, MK Pride, and the Newport Pagnell Cultural and Literary Festival. It%u2019s been fantastic to meet and visit so many of our talented local businesses and groups who work so hard to serve our communities. As we wrap up the summer season, I%u2019m excited about the rest of the year ahead, particularly meeting more residents and businesses across our city, towns and villages. Perhaps the strangest moment of the summer came when President Obonjo dragged me on stage during his stand-up routine at the wonderful Olney Food Festival. I would like to make it clear that, contrary to his claims, my loyalty is not to him but to the residents of Milton Keynes North.New Offi ce Set UpThe most important job I have been focusing on over the summer is setting up my new offi ce to support me with my work across the community.I would like to thank everyone for your patience over this period, and I know it is taking longer for me to respond to emails and correspondence than I would like. Frustratingly, hiring staff is a long process because everyone needs to be security vetted, and then work their notice period in their current jobs.However, by the middle of this month, my offi ce will be fully up and running, and we will be doing our best to get back to everyone within two weeks. Backing British Farmers Last month we celebrated %u2018Back British Farming Day%u2019 where I met with representatives from the National Farmers%u2019 Union in Parliament. I know that the last few years have been tough for our farming community, so I will be working with the new government and the NFU to ensure the hardworking farmers across the constituency get the support they need. My mission to fi x our broken healthcare servicesAs I have written before, the biggest challenge facing families across Milton Keynes is access to healthcare, and I will be doing everything I can to ensure we improve the dire situation we currently face. As part of this, I recently met with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, to discuss the future of our long-awaited new women%u2019s and children%u2019s units at Milton Keynes University Hospital. Frustratingly, the last government made promises about the project, but we have now found out that the money had not been committed, and a workable plan for building it was never developed. Because of this, the government is currently reviewing the timetable for all new projects. As part of that, I will continue to make the case to get spades in the ground for our new hospital as soon as possible because everyone in Milton Keynes deserves access to good healthcare. But we know that fi xing healthcare in the city is about more than building a new hospital. Last month, I also met with NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard and National Medical Director Sir Steve Powis, we had further discussions about my concerns for our hospital and GP surgeries across the constituency and how we can tackle the long wait lists and 8am scramble for appointments. I was assured that they share my anxieties about the levels of healthcare accessible in Milton Keynes and I look forward to working with them alongside Joe Harrison, CEO of Milton Keynes University Hospital, to ensure our hospital and healthcare providers meet the needs of the people in Milton Keynes and surrounding villages and towns.Chris CurtisGet In Touch: I am always keen to hear your views, so please contact me at chris.curtis.mp@parliament.uk.MP for MiltonKeynes NorthNHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard and National Medical Director Sir Steve Powis