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September 2026 Monthly Newsletter

Writer: Diana Johnson
Diana Johnson
6 days ago
7 min read

Rail electrification on track - at last!



Our long campaign to electrify the rail lines to Hull finally took a decisive leap forward during September with the announcement from TransPennine Express of a £1 billion investment in a new fleet of battery-electric trains that will enter service in 2034. This is a key development in transforming rail travel across the north of England, while supporting hundreds of skilled jobs across the UK.


Faster battery-electric trains will also create more capacity in the rail network that opens up the prospect of extra services. However, the process of eliminating polluting, unhealthy and expensive diesel from the rail network is not yet complete. We are now looking for a similar commitment to battery-electric trains when First Hull Trains and Northern renew their fleets. I discussed the need to do this with both of these operators during September


This wasn't the only good news. On the last day of September, I received the long-awaited news that the Home Office will formally stop using the Royal Hotel at Hull Paragon Station for asylum seekers in December. I look forward to the site returning to its former use in our local tourist and business economy.


Historic Hull cinema site reopened



As a patron of the National Civilian World War Two Memorial Trust, I was honoured to speak at the reopening of the National Picture Theatre on Beverley Road in September. 


Described as the last surviving civilian bomb-damaged building in the UK, the facade of the National Picture Theatre had for decades stood derelict and abandoned. This was until 1995, when a group of local people started the long process of restoration. 


Having seen the work put in over the years, it is fantastic to see the National Picture Theatre open to the public once again, as a living memorial to those who were there the night the cinema was bombed. It will also be a place for educating the generations to come. I used the opportunity to again raise the lack of national recognition for Hull’s experience during the Blitz.




Bringing people together


During September, I met with faith leaders from across Hull North and Cottingham and representatives from Hull City Council, Hull and East Yorkshire Mind and the NHS to discuss access to local mental health services.  Faith leaders often come into contact with people suffering from different levels of mental distress or illness and it was important to bring everyone together to determine how best we can signpost people to the help they need. 


I also held a meeting on building social cohesion, bringing together Hull CIAC (Community Integration And Advocacy Centre), Hull City Council, Humberside Police, the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority and representatives from refugee and asylum organisations and charities from across the city. 


Finally, in Cottingham I had my latest meeting with local councillors, business owners and Humberside Police on shop theft in the village. Retail crime and anti-social behaviour continues to be a challenging issue in our communities and bringing everyone together helps to develop a plan of action.


A visit to the shed



I had a fantastic visit to Men in Sheds Hull, who are based at Oak Road Playing Fields. Men in Sheds help to tackle loneliness and social isolation among men through a workshop and café run by volunteers and a paid worker. To find out more about their work or how you can get involved, visit Home | Men in Sheds Hull



Cutting edge treatment at Castle Hill




I also visited Castle Hill Hospital and was pleased to see the latest use of medical technology and to try out for myself the use of the da Vinci Surgical Robotic System. Doctors can perform increasingly complex surgery, often in a shorter timeframe, using this technology. I also saw the Day Surgery Centre, a state-of-the-art facility that allows patients to receive high-quality care and surgical procedures all within one day. 


I met Chief Executive Lyn Simpson to discuss progress that the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is making after being named the worst performing Trust in England earlier this year. I was encouraged to hear some of the latest developments, but it is clear that there is a long way still to go.


Infected blood scandal victims remembered


My constituent Glenn Wilkinson is still campaigning for improvements to the compensation scheme for victims of infected blood. I met Glenn at Westminster where he was delivering a letter to Downing Street on behalf of campaigners. 


Later in the month, I represented the Prime Minister at an event in Hampshire unveiling a memorial to 122 pupils at Treloar’s College who were subject to unethical experimentation during the infected blood scandal.


Healthy work



As the Minister for Neighbourhood Health, I visited the Reginald Community Health Centre in Leeds. The Government is committed to rolling out neighbourhood health centres in every community as part of the Ten Year Health Plan – moving more services out of the hospital and into the community.


Clearing the air



There is clear evidence of the negative health impact of poor air quality. Alongside the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, I attended the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee to give evidence on cross-government action to improve air quality. You can watch the session here: https://parliamentlive.tv/.../94f5f43a-1e33-4aa3-ac5c.


Sepsis claims  five lives an hour in the UK. It can affect anyone at any time, but fast action can save lives.  I spoke in the House of Commons debate marking Sepsis Awareness Month, paying tribute to the charities, such as the UK Sepsis Trust and Sepsis Research FEAT, that do so much to support families, raise awareness and fund research on this issue. My speech is here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2026-09-15/debates/1323237C-30EA-4375-B6A8-C5B653336FA0/SepsisAwarenessMonth.


If you or a loved one has an infection and just know that something is wrong, ask: “Could it be Sepsis?”. Learn more here: https://sepsistrust.org/trust-your-instincts/.



Taking pressure of GPs and hospitals



Community pharmacies are at the heart of our NHS and of their local communities, playing an important role in delivering health services and relieving some of the pressure on GPs and A&Es. Over the years, I have visited many pharmacies in Hull to learn about their work. 


Since 2024, the Labour Government has delivered a 19% uplift to pharmacy funding, part of improving patient access to care in their communities.


In September, I was pleased to announce the extension of Pharmacy First. From this Autumn, participating pharmacies will be able to assess and treat five additional common conditions - migraine in adults, complex hay fever in children, outer ear infections in adults, mild skin infections and scabies and acne. See https://www.facebook.com/reel/1549204697222572.



Also in Parliament,  I responded for the Government to a debate led by the Labour MP Danny Beales on vaccination rates. After clean water, vaccination is the most effective public health intervention for saving lives and promoting good health. One vaccination can change the whole course of a life for the better.


I am very conscious of that as a Hull MP. In October 1961, we were the first city to mass-vaccinate with the new oral vaccine. When we faced a polio outbreak that threatened the city, over 350,000 people were vaccinated in two weeks. That led to the national roll-out soon afterwards, helping to virtually eliminate the disease nationwide. 


Vaccinations have protected generations from serious disease. All of us have a vested interest in ensuring that they continue to do so. My speech is here: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/d01b4723-b547-472e-a5ca-71809e83bf11?in=13:50:08.


Supporting infants, parents and carers



I also spoke on behalf of the Government in support of Sir Desmond Swayne's Infants, Parents and Carers Bill. 


This Bill would make support for pregnancy, babies and early years a sustained government priority, whilst also advancing our ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. It reinforces the work that is under way through the Healthy Babies programme, the expansion of which was announced at the Labour Party Conference, and Best Start family hubs. 


The Government has also announced the biggest overhaul of school food in a generation to tackle childhood obesity, improve nutrition and support children's concentration, learning and wellbeing. These changes will see more fresh fruit and vegetables on plates and deep-fried food will be banned. You can read more about the announcement here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/healthier-school-dinners-as-government-delivers-major-reforms.


A few days by the Mersey



At the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool in the last few days of September, I spoke at eight fringe meetings on issues ranging from GPs and childhood health to the Hillsborough Law and the Infected Blood scandal. It was also useful to have dozens of conversations with experts and campaigners across many aspects of health and social care. 


I also attended the Prime Minister’s speech in which Andy Burnham gave the historic commitment to creating a National Care Service based on the same principles as our NHS.


Assisted dying debate continues



Thank you all to those who have taken the time to share their views on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Understandably, this debate gives rise to strongly held views and legitimate arguments from both sides. I have considered them all carefully. 


I believe that people should be given genuine choice, dignity and control over what happens to them as they near the end of their life. I voted for the Bill when it came before the Commons in September. However, on a free vote the Bill did not pass and will not progress any further. However, there will continue to be a debate about the issue and a focus on end-of-life care.


Firework safety


Residents across Hull North and Cottingham still have time to respond to the Government’s consultation on fireworks, an issue about which I know many care - especially as we are near the time of year when more fireworks are about. You have until 11.59pm on 7th October 2026 to submit your views here: https://www.gov.uk/.../fireworks-and-pyrotechnics-in-the-uk


Constituents visit Parliament


I welcomed constituents from the Bora Shabaa Refugee Community Organisation to Parliament recently, with huge thanks to Hull Trains for supporting the visit. As ever, if you would like to visit me in Parliament, please do let me know that you are coming. I will always do my best to greet you and ensure that there is someone to show you around.


Meeting Julia Gillard



It was a pleasure to meet former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard. Joining other parliamentarians, we discussed a range of topics including reducing violence against women and girls and growing future leaders in our local communities.

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