Women’s health has been ignored and neglected for too long. I said during my first appearance as minister and I will say it again - no more, not on my watch.

Every patient deserves the dignity of treatment away from the view of others and the comfort of a hospital bed during difficult and vulnerable moments. That is why this Labour government is acting to end the use of corridor care in the NHS by the end of this parliament 🌹🩺

The recent heatwave in the UK has had huge impacts on people’s health and therefore our NHS too. I was glad to be able to thank them for their professionalism and hard work and explain what we are doing as a government to ensure we are prepared and protected for extreme weather moving forward 💪☀️

This Labour government will create the healthiest generation ever, by shifting the focus from sickness to prevention and giving every child the best start in life 🍎📚

📢 We need your help. A public consultation is now open on proposals that could change the future of bus services across the North East. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share it with your friends, family, colleagues and networks.

I was proud to go before the Lords Select Committee last week for the session on Childhood Vaccinations. 🏥🩺

It was great to welcome Oxclose Academy to Parliament for the Planet Big Ideas Competition 2026 National Final! 🌍 It is inspiring to see young people from Washington using their creativity and leadership skills to address critical climate issues.

It was great to drop by to see RNID’s fantastic work in action in Parliament yesterday. I was even lucky enough to get an ear wax and hearing check in the Hear for Norfolk mobile clinic (which I passed 🥰🎉). 🧵(1/2)

It was lovely to visit Birtley Food Bank yesterday to once again see how they support local residents in great need and to speak with all the volunteers who help make the foodbank the welcoming place it is. 🧵: (1/2)

Alongside the other Sunderland MPs, I wrote to the incoming Reform Leader of Sunderland Council regarding worrying comments made by several of his councillors. A full copy of the letter can be seen below 🌹👇

I am pleased that Labour has announced a £30 million nationwide crackdown targeting dodgy barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops involved in money laundering. These shops will face raids, closure orders and cash seizures as part of a new drive to clean up Britain’s high streets.🌹🚓

Consecutive Conservative Governments refused to protect fans and our world leading live events sector. I am therefore delighted that the King’s Speech includes plans to introduce a Draft Ticket Tout Ban Bill, an issue I campaigned on as a backbencher since 2010. 🌹🎟️

It’s always lovely speaking to my constituents about issues important to them and our community… 🧵(1/4)

Renters in my constituency are now better protected, as new laws come into force delivering the biggest upgrade to renters’ rights in over 40 years. Around 5,161 private rental homes locally will benefit from these changes, giving people more security, fairness and stability in their housing.

It was fantastic to join the team at Holly House Care Home this weekend, to celebrate their Outstanding rating following inspection from the Care Quality Commission. It was a pleasure to meet residents and the hardworking team who are a tribute to this accomplishment and our community in Washington.

Cold mornings in Washington this weekend, but a warm reception to myself and Labour councillors on the doorsteps. On May 7th, let's make sure that we elect hardworking Labour councillors who can work in partnership with a Labour Government to deliver for our community. 🌹

It was fantastic to visit Barmston Primary School in Washington on Friday morning, to see their Breakfast Club and meet with staff and students.

Yesterday we took the biggest step to overhaul school food in a generation – and I couldn't be prouder. 1 in 3 children are leaving primary school at risk of food-related ill-health. Tooth decay is the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged 5–9. That is simply not good enough.

It was great to speak with both the children and the workers, and to hear more about Gateshead's HAFplus app and the Nutritional Education recipe boxes they are currently using.

I had a lovely time today visiting some of the Holiday Activity and Food programmes in Birtley, to see how the children of Gateshead can spend their Easter holidays making friends, getting some exercise, and not worrying about food in the meantime.

It was great to hear about their path to their apprenticeship, how it works in practice and their hopes for their future with Asda. I wish them the very best for their futures.

Last week I visited ASDA Living in Team Valley where I met some of their current apprentices from local stores in my area to hear more about their work and learning and how the ASDA apprenticeship programme benefits them in their career journey.

Today’s boost to the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage will give a much needed pay rise to 2.7 million workers. 💷

Target Ovarian Cancer are doing fantastic work to advocate for greater awareness of symptoms to ensure earlier detection, faster diagnosis and higher survival rates.

I was proud to drop-in to an event last month, hosted by Target Ovarian Cancer, to mark Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. As Minister I am absolutely committed to improving cancer care for patients across England, including those suffering from ovarian cancer and other gynaecological cancers.

This meeting allowed businesses to ask questions, raise concerns, discuss key challenges or opportunities, and suggest priorities for the Chamber to take forward in the future. It was lovely to see the engagement of these local businesses and to be able to speak with all involved.

I today held a Chamber of Commerce area meeting in Washington and Gateshead South alongside the North East Chamber of Commerce. This meeting was attended by businesses and employers across the local area to discuss the issues that matter most for the north east.