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30 Phonebox Magazine | February 2025Over the Christmas break I refl ected on how it is important in this job not just to focus on the challenges we face, but also to remember the many reasons we must be hopeful about the future. Reasons to be CheerfulThere%u2019s no escaping the fact that life is tough for too many people right now. The cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, our NHS remains under strain, and many of our public services are desperately in need of support.Just months ago, I promised I would fi ght to address these issues, and that promise remains as steadfast as ever. But I know that, after years of challenges, it%u2019s easy to feel that optimism has been drained away.But I truly believe that amidst the gloom, there are many bright sparks. The headlines and social media feeds may dwell on the negative, but I%u2019d like to use this month%u2019s column to focus on what%u2019s going right %u2013 and list a few reasons we have to look forward to the year ahead with renewed hope.Transformative Medical BreakthroughsEvery day, incredible strides are being made in medical science that are changing lives. I%u2019ve seen this fi rsthand in my own family %u2013 thanks to a revolutionary NHS-funded drug, my stepdad will live a longer, healthier life.But we are on the precipice of many further exciting breakthroughs that could lead to us all living healthier and longer lives. The buzz around so called %u2018GLP-1 receptor agonists%u2019 like Ozempic is growing, and while they%u2019re currently best known for weight loss, their potential reaches far beyond that. Researchers are exploring their use for diabetes, heart and kidney disease, Alzheimer%u2019s, and even addiction.Closer to home, Milton Keynes Hospital will soon roll out opt-out testing for conditions like HIV and hepatitis. They expect to fi nd around 10 new people a month, which could mean 100 people by Christmas who will be prevented from getting aids and liver disease.A f t e r y e a r s o f campaigning, I%u2019m proud to say we recently secured funding for a new Women%u2019s and Children%u2019s Hospital in Milton Keynes. This project will expand our hospital%u2019s capacity by a third, ensuring we%u2019re ready to embrace the breakthroughs of tomorrow and provide the care our community deserves.Progress on Climate ChangeIt%u2019s undeniable that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, but there%u2019s also reason for hope. Here in the UK, we%u2019ve already cut our carbon emissions by over 50% since 1990, and we%u2019re set to push further in 2025.The rapid fall in the cost of solar panels means we can now accelerate installations on homes and public buildings. Just last month, I visited Radcliff e School, where brand-new solar panels are already making a diff erence. Working with local groups like MK Community Energy, I%u2019m determined to secure funding for more projects like this rolled out across our city. While there%u2019s still much to do, these small but meaningful steps show we can make a real impact.Chris Curtis MP for MiltonKeynes NorthA Fight Against PotholesPotholes may not grab national headlines, but they%u2019re a daily frustration for all of us. Years of underfunding and unpredictable weather have left our roads in a sorry state, but 2025 will be the year we turn a corner. With an extra %u00a32.8 million secured, we%u2019re set to fi x 38,000 cracks and potholes in our area. New technology and better equipment mean repairs will be faster and more effi cient %u2013 and mean our teams can work longer into the colder months to tackle the backlog. I even joined a team on the job myself in December. Let%u2019s just say I%u2019ll leave it to the experts from now on!The Power of Our CommunityBut above all, the greatest reason to be cheerful is the strength of our community. Time and again, I am humbled by the kindness, resilience, and generosity of the people I have the privilege to represent.It%u2019s the volunteers at %u201cOlney is Kind,%u201d led by Naomi, Daniela, Frances, and Vanessa, who give their time to support folk in their town. It%u2019s the families, often struggling themselves, who still manage to donate to the food bank during their weekly shop. It%u2019s the people who roll up their sleeves and donate blood, saving the lives of people they don%u2019t know, and will likely never meet.These acts of selfl essness, often carried out quietly and without fanfare, are the heartbeat of our community. They remind me daily why our community is so special %u2013 and why there%u2019s no other place I%u2019d rather represent.I won%u2019t sugar-coat the challenges we face. The road ahead will still have its bumps along the way, though perhaps fewer potholes. But when I look around at everything we%u2019ve achieved together, I see a community with so much to be proud of and even more to look forward to.As we embrace this new year, I hope we can all fi nd the strength to hold onto hope. Let%u2019s take a moment to celebrate the progress we%u2019re making, the kindness that runs through our streets, and the people who show us, every day, the best of humanity.This is a community %u2013 and a country %u2013 worth believing in.If you would like to get in touch with me or attend one of my weekly surgeries, please feel free to email me at chris.curtis.mp@parliament.uk As always, please follow my Facebook page (@ChrisCurtisLabour) for frequent news and updates from both Westminster and our wonderful constituency. Milton Keynes MPs welcome hospital expansion newsChris with MK Community Energy at Radcliff e School