Gill Furniss MP

March 2025 newsletter

Meeting with the Health Secretary to discuss local NHS waiting lists

I recently met with the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, to discuss NHS waiting lists in Sheffield. Many constituents have got in touch with me because they have been left waiting years for the treatment they need after waiting times shot up under the last government.

The Labour Government has rolled out crack teams of top doctors to help cut waiting lists faster, and Sheffield has been one of the first areas to benefit. This is already having an effect: over 2,000 fewer people in Sheffield are on a waiting list compared to just three months ago.

Nationally, NHS waiting lists have fallen for five months in a row after Labour provided funding for extra appointments (Reform and the Conservatives voted against this funding). There is still a long way to go, but it is great to see progress being made to get the NHS back on its feet.

South Yorkshire buses to be brought back under public control

I am delighted that South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, has decided to bring buses back under public control for the first time since the 1980s.

The failed experiment of privatisation has left our bus network woefully inadequate for local people. But starting in 2027, we will take back control of routes, fares and timetables so that they better serve local communities.

Central government is also investing over £17 million in South Yorkshire to make services more reliable, frequent and affordable, so that local people can look forward to better public transport in the coming years.

Panel discussion on the impact of endometriosis on women in the workplace

This month, I joined an online panel to discuss how employers and the Government can better support those with endometriosis in the workplace. From my work on the all-party Parliamentary groups on Women’s Health and Endometriosis, I am acutely aware of the everyday challenges that this debilitating condition can present and how women too often have to give up their careers because of it.

We cannot afford to ignore these challenges any longer. The workplace must be a place where women’s health is taken seriously.

At last year’s general election, I proudly stood on a manifesto promise to introduce a new Employment Rights Bill within 100 days of entering office, and I am glad to say the Government has fulfilled that pledge. This will be the biggest boost to workers’ rights in a generation, which will help women in particular.

The was an incredibly important discussion. We heard from medical experts, campaigners and women who have experienced these issues themselves. I look forward to continuing this work so that women with endometriosis are no longer forgotten in the workplace.

Discussion with Ambassadors from the Middle East regarding the situation in Palestine

I am grateful to the British-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group for organising a meeting to discuss the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory with the Ambassadors of Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

There was broad agreement amongst MPs on the importance of pushing back on any proposals that do not have the interests of the Palestinian people at its core.

Education Questions – highlighting the importance of good further education for everyone

Throughout my time in Parliament, I have raised the importance of further education and the transformative impact it can have for people of all ages.

I recently asked the Education Secretary what steps she is taking to ensure that further education is there for everybody and that the introduction of T-Levels does not result in anyone falling through the cracks.

I was reassured to hear the Government’s commitment to fixing the broken skills sector left behind by the Tories and building a resilient further education sector which supports people into high-quality jobs.

Visit to Fox Hill Medical Centre

It was a pleasure to visit Fox Hill Medical Centre this month to speak to staff and patients. This facility is part of the NHS LIFT Programme, which has delivered 350 quality community health facilities across England.

We spoke about the importance of preventative, community care in easing the pressure facing hospitals and improving health outcomes.

My thanks go to the whole team at Fox Hill Medical Centre for taking the time to show me round the facility and talk about their vital work.

Roundtable with HealthWatch Sheffield on improving local healthcare

I was pleased to attend a roundtable discussion in Sheffield recently to talk about the issues faced by people living with long term health conditions.

We were joined by numerous voluntary sector partners who are all on the frontline supporting people to live independently and manage chronic conditions. This was a productive and frank discussion about the pressures facing local services in the midst of funding pressures; these are issues I will continue to raise with Ministers.

I want to thank HealthWatch Sheffield for organising the event and everybody who attended.

March casework summary

615 new cases opened

824 emails sent

Top three topics this month:

1. Social security and pensions
2. International affairs
3. Health services and medicine

Please get in touch if I or my team can be of assistance.