Weekly Update
Turning the NHS Around
For too long, patients were promised change in the NHS – but saw little of it.
That is now beginning to change.
Since Labour came into government, NHS waiting lists are down by more than 312,000, including an 86,000 drop in November alone. That is the second-biggest fall in 15 years. Compared with July 2024, 340,000 fewer people are now waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment.
Behind those numbers are real people: faster care, less anxiety for families, and more people back on their feet and back at work.
This progress is being delivered through record investment and modernisation, alongside the extraordinary dedication of NHS staff.
We are expanding evening and weekend appointments, and bringing tests and scans closer to home through Community Diagnostic Centres.
More than 100 centres are now open for longer hours, helping patients get answers and treatment more quickly.
Winter pressures remain high and there is still a long road ahead. But even in November, NHS staff continued to deliver: 73.8% of patients were seen within the four-hour A&E target, over 50,000 more people than a year ago.
This didn’t happen by accident. It happened because of the hard work of NHS staff, backed by a government determined to fix what was broken.
There is more to do – but this is real progress. Labour is turning the NHS around and delivering the change people voted for.
Improving Urgent Care at North Midds 🏥
On a connected note, I know how many Enfield North residents rely on North Middlesex Hospital, so this is welcome news: Planning permission has now been granted for a new urgent care facility at North Midds, which will benefit patients in Enfield North and across north London.
This new urgent treatment centre will help ease pressure on A&E by treating people with urgent but non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries more quickly and efficiently. Facilities like this are increasingly important in ensuring patients get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
The hospital is run by Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, which has confirmed that the new centre will be larger, more modern, and supported by a new ambulance hub. Together, these improvements will help to improve patient flow, reduce waiting times, and create a better environment for both patients and staff.
The development will be built as a modern extension to the existing A&E department and this investment is a real step forward for urgent and emergency care at North Midds. I will continue to support efforts to strengthen NHS services locally so Enfield North residents can access care more quickly and closer to home.
Holocaust Memorial Day: Remembering, Reflecting, Recommitting
This week, I took a moment to reflect ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day on Tuesday 27 January. It is always an honour to sign in remembrance, and to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered in the Holocaust, alongside all those persecuted by the Nazis.
This year’s theme, Bridging Generations, feels especially powerful. As we mark more than 80 years since the end of the Holocaust and the Second World War, we are acutely aware that survivors are becoming fewer and frailer. That makes the responsibility on all of us even greater.
It will fall to future generations to carry these stories forward - to remember, to educate, and to ensure that the warning of where antisemitism, hatred and dehumanisation can lead is never ignored.
We remember.
We reflect.
And we recommit ourselves to saying never again - and meaning it.
This Girl Can Skate – Confidence on Wheels in Enfield North 💪
Today I had the chance to take part in a session of the fantastic This Girl Can Skate programme at Oasis Academy in Enfield North – and I can confirm that skateboarding is much harder than it looks! Helmet on, balance questionable, enthusiasm high.
The programme is reaching around 160 girls across eight Enfield schools, offering 12 weeks of skateboarding and creative workshops designed to build confidence, resilience and wellbeing, particularly for girls who may need extra encouragement to engage fully in school life.
This brilliant initiative is delivered through a partnership between Enfield Council’s Public Health team, the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, funded by the London Marathon Foundation, and run by Everybody on Boards.
Alongside learning the basics of skateboarding, the girls also take part in creative sessions focused on:
🎨 Design and self-expression
🎤 Event planning and teamwork
🧠 Building confidence, resilience and positive mental health
Each session runs for an hour during the school day and includes holistic wellbeing support, helping young people feel stronger, more confident and more connected.
It was inspiring to see the confidence growing – and reassuring to know the girls were far steadier on their boards than I was. Programmes like this show how sport and creativity together can open doors and change lives.
Stronger Parental Leave Rights – Security for Working Families 👶 💼
From April, millions of working families across Enfield North will gain stronger parental leave rights from day one, giving parents the security they deserve at the moments that matter most.
Under changes flowing from the recently passed Employment Rights Act, parents will no longer face the heart-wrenching choice between being there for the first weeks of their child’s life or returning to work early to protect their job. New day-one rights to parental leave will mean time with a newborn is a right, not a risk.
These reforms will benefit over 18 million workers across the UK, with the greatest impact felt by those in lower-paid or insecure work. Importantly, an additional 32,000 dads each year will be able to access Paternity Leave immediately, bringing greater fairness and balance for families.
The changes are part of a wider effort to make work pay and raise living standards:
Parents will be able to take Unpaid Parental Leave from their first day in a new job, giving around 1.5 million parents more flexibility to share caring responsibilities.
The Government is continuing a full Parental Leave and Pay Review, looking across maternity, paternity and shared parental leave to make the system work better for parents and employers.
Statutory Sick Pay will be extended so up to 1.3 million more people in lower-paid or part-time roles can access it, from day one of illness – ending the old three-day wait that pushed people to work while unwell.
Around 390,000 people who want to work are currently out of the labour market due to caring responsibilities. These reforms will help more parents stay connected to work, boosting wellbeing, productivity and economic growth. Even a small increase in participation could add around £150 million a year to the economy.
By tackling insecure work, expanding flexible working, and ending exploitative practices, these changes will improve job security, support families, and create a fairer labour market. It’s a clear signal that growth should be felt by working people in every part of the country – especially when family comes first.
Freedom Pass Protected – A Win for Older Londoners 🚍🚇
I know how strongly many residents in Enfield North feel about the Freedom Pass – and I share those concerns.
Proposals to restrict the Freedom Pass to buses only would have been deeply wrong, particularly in a city as large, expensive and culturally rich as London. The Freedom Pass is not a perk; it is a lifeline that helps older Londoners stay connected, independent and active.
I am pleased to say that this threat has now been blocked.
Labour council leaders across London – including the Leader of Enfield Council – stood firm and stopped proposals to review or restrict the Freedom Pass. This position has been backed by Sadiq Khan, with a clear message: while the scheme must be funded sustainably, older Londoners must not pay the price.
Councils are under real financial pressure. Funding for the Freedom Pass was cut by the previous Conservative government, leaving local authorities to shoulder more of the cost. But Labour councils were clear: the answer is to defend the Freedom Pass, not dilute it – and I fully support that stance.
This is an important victory for fairness, accessibility and inclusion in our city.
I will always stand up for policies that keep London open to everyone – and I will continue to protect the Freedom Pass in full on behalf of constituents across Enfield North.
Community Recycling Day – Clear Out & Recycle ♻️
Are you planning a home refresh, declutter or reorganisation for 2026 in Enfield North? Got items you need to get rid of but can’t easily take to the recycling centre? If so, come along to the next Community Recycling Day:
📍 Lytchet Way parking area (near EN3 5XT)
📅 Saturday 24 January
⏰ 9am – 2pm
If you live locally, please do come down. On the day, the teams will be accepting:
🔌 Electrical items
👕 Textiles
🛏 Furnishings
You’ll also be able to ask questions about household recycling, find out what goes where, and meet the recycling crews who keep our neighbourhoods clean and tidy.
A great opportunity to recycle responsibly in Enfield North and start the year clutter-free!
Have a great week.
Best wishes
Feryal