Horton General Hospital | Prentis Summer School | Transport Secretary Meeting | NHS Long Term Workforce Plan | Cheers M' Dears!

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Welcome to my July Newsletter!
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Although we have now reached Summer Recess, my team and I have been working hard to support constituents with any issues they might have. Casework can range from issues as varied as housing and healthcare, to immigration and planning.

I know from correspondence that many families continue to face challenges with the cost of living. It is important that we ensure that government support reaches those who need it most. I have been directing those who get in touch to the dedicated Government Help for Households ([link removed]) webpage.

Should you have any queries or questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

I hope you are all able to relax and enjoy the summer over the weeks ahead.

Victoria

Horton Call with OUH Chief Executive
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Last Friday, I had an 8am call with the Chief Executive of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Professor Meghana Pandit. I requested the call as I wanted to understand why the Trust did not tell me sooner about the outcome of their Expression of Interest for funding for the Horton General Hospital.

Given that Professor Pandit is relatively new to the role of Chief Executive, it was also useful for me to go through the history of the Horton General Hospital and emphasise how important it is that the Trust communicates clearly with the people of Banbury. We all need to know what is going on with our much-loved hospital. She reiterated that the Horton has a firm place in the future of the Trust, given the vital services it provides to so many across North Oxfordshire and beyond.

I have a further meeting with the Trust on Wednesday to discuss their Plan B for our local General Hospital.

Horton Maternity Unit
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I was really pleased to have the opportunity to visit the maternity unit earlier this month. It has been a few years since I was last able to see inside and have a walk around.

While it is disappointing that the number of women giving birth there has dropped significantly since it was downgraded to a midwife-led unit, it is still very much business as usual. During my visit I had the opportunity to meet some of the brilliant midwives working hard both at the Horton and in the community to support expectant mothers and all those after welcoming their baby. The static ambulance remains on site for those who may need it.

I was reassured that those who choose to give birth there have an overwhelmingly positive experience. It is absolutely critical that expectant mothers have a real choice about where they give birth. I feel reassured that the Horton is a genuine option for some. The maternity services provided at the hospital are absolutely essential to our fast-growing town and surrounding villages.

Meeting with Transport Secretary
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Earlier this month, I was pleased to sit down with Transport Secretary Mark Harper and Rail Minister Huw Merriman alongside fellow Chiltern MPs Greg Smith, Rob Butler and Steve Baker.

We had a productive discussion on a number of rail-related issues which have been raised by our constituents. You can read about our meeting here ([link removed]) .

Prentis Summer School
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It was brilliant to welcome local students on work experience in my office to Parliament this month. The group enjoyed a tour of the Palace before getting the chance to watch the House of Commons in action from the public gallery.

The students spent their week working on group projects on a range of local issues from healthcare to rural connectivity. I was really impressed with the quality of their work and enjoyed hearing their views.

Any students from North Oxfordshire wishing to undertake work experience in my office next summer should contact me at [email protected].

Summer Pub Tour
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I have really enjoyed speaking to constituents on my Summer Pub Tour. So far I have been at The Roebuck Inn in Drayton and The Joiner's Arms in Bloxham. We are so lucky to have such a fantastic selection of pubs locally and it is important that we all continue to go out and support them.

Join me on Thursday at The Butcher's Arms in Balscote from 6:30pm onwards for my next stop.

Cheers M' Dears!
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Banbury’s newest pub room, ‘Cheers M’ Dears!’, is now open! Designed by a group of regulars who use Banbury Community Support Service (CSS) in Neithrop, this new space offers a safe and inclusive pub environment for members to enjoy.

I was delighted to attend the grand opening and raise a glass to this brilliant and imaginative creation. I met the manager of Banbury CSS, Jennifer Farrell, who was so proud of what has been delivered.

Banbury CSS do so much to support people in our community, including those with learning disabilities, mental health concerns and dementia. As well as enjoying this new social setting, those who use the service will get the chance to work behind the bar and gain valuable service experience, giving them the skills and confidence they need for future employment.

Anyone wishing to use the pub room can email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) for further details.

Opening Schools Facilities
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It was lovely to visit Hanwell Fields Community School in Banbury this month to see one of their Bikeability sessions in action.

Hanwell are one of 28 schools across North Oxfordshire to benefit from a share of over £200,000 worth of Opening School Facilities funding. This investment, which comes from the Department for Education, is supporting schools to open their facilities outside of the normal school day to the local community.

It was brilliant to be at Hanwell alongside High Sheriff of Oxfordshire Sally Scott and Councillor Phil Chapman to see how the funding is making a difference. The school have opened their very own bike library, purchasing 20 bikes for pupils to use. This has enabled them to train pupils in workshop maintenance, deliver Bikeability sessions and run after school clubs. It was great to hear more about their exciting plans for the future from Headteacher Alex Pearson who is committed to supporting children to live healthy and active lives.

Run in partnership with Cherwell District Council, North Oxfordshire School Sport Partnership, British Cycling and Active Oxfordshire, the programme has already got over 1,000 pupils and residents in Cherwell active in just two months which is a fantastic achievement.

Record Funding for Schools
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To coin the phrase the Prime Minister always uses, education is the closest thing to a silver bullet there is. That is why I welcome the news that schools in England are set to receive their highest ever funding in real terms, totalling almost £60 billion for 2024-25.

Schools across North Oxfordshire will receive an average of around £6,000 per pupil which represents an increase of 2.7% compared to last year, with high needs funding also increasing by 4.3%.

Every child deserves a world class education, which is why the Government is investing record sums. Read more on this here ([link removed]) .

NHS Long Term Workforce Plan
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I welcome the publication of the first comprehensive workforce plan for the NHS, which will put staffing on a sustainable footing and improve patient care. The plan focuses on retaining existing talent and making the best use of new technology alongside driving forward record recruitment.

Developed by the NHS and backed by the Government, the 15-year long term workforce plan will meet the workforce requirements the NHS has for the future. Read more here ([link removed]) .

Long Term Plan for Housing
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The Government remains committed to enabling more people to realise their dream of owning their own home. Since 2010, more than 2 million homes have been built in England. Our housing supply rate is at a 30-year high and we are roughly 70% of the way towards meeting our manifesto commitment of building 1 million homes this Parliament.

Last week, the Government’s Long Term Plan for Housing was announced. Setting out the Plan, both the Prime Minister and the Housing Secretary were clear that the right approach is not to concrete over our countryside, but to instead focus on our cities and brownfield land. The Long Term Plan commits to regenerating 20 of our largest cities and investing a further £1 billion into developing brownfield land, while protecting our green landscapes. Building on the work of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, the Plan also calls for public services to be put at the heart of communities, ensuring development is encouraged where infrastructure is already in place to support it.

I welcome the Long Term Plan and its ambition to promote sustainable growth over urban sprawl, building the right homes in the right places.

The Open University Law School
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This month, I visited The Open University's Milton Keynes campus in celebration of 25 years of its Law School. While I was there, I met Law student Rebekah Zammett from Banbury who had just won the Middle Temple Access to the Bar Award. It was great to be able to congratulate her in-person.

There are 385 people in North Oxfordshire studying at The Open University. I’d love to hear from you via [email protected] if you are one of them!

Accountability for Ukraine
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Helping Ukraine secure accountability is a key priority for me, this government, and so many people I have been working alongside this year.

Banbury has had a special relationship with Ukraine since the start of the conflict. It was a pleasure to meet the Mayor of Mariupol Vadym Boychenko to hear how his beautiful city is recovering from the devastation caused by Russian aggression.
For more information about anything you have read in this newsletter or to find out more about my work, please visit: www.victoriaprentis.com ([link removed])

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