Health & Wellbeing

Back To My Plan

Choices, Challenges, and Change

Health isn’t just something that happens to us, it’s shaped by the choices we make every day. What we eat, how active we are, whether we smoke or drink – all of these decisions add up over time. But while personal responsibility plays a huge role, so does the world we live in.

Because it’s one thing to say, “Eat healthier,” and another to afford fresh food when budgets are tight. It’s easy to tell people to “exercise more,” but if you’re juggling work and family pressures, finding the time and energy isn’t always straightforward. The truth is, our health is a mix of personal choices and the environment we live in – both matter, and both need attention.

Living Shorter, Sicker Lives

People in Rhondda and Ogmore are living shorter lives than in most parts of Wales. We don’t have to look far to see why. Long-term health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung problems are far too common. Ogmore has the highest rate of GP-recorded chronic illness in Wales, and Rhondda is right behind it.

Some of this comes down to genetics, some to our industrial past, and some to lifestyle choices. We can’t ignore that obesity, smoking, and poor diet all contribute to these conditions. The positive thing about recognising our ability to shape our health is to understand that small changes can make a big difference.

The Reality of Obesity and Smoking

Obesity is a growing problem, and it starts young. One in four adults in Rhondda and Ogmore is obese, and in the Rhondda, 15.3% of 4-5-year-olds are already classed as obese – the second highest rate in Wales.

This isn’t just about appearance; it’s about long-term health. Obesity increases the risk of serious conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. And while many people here work hard to stay active – whether it’s walking the valleys, playing rugby, or hitting the gym – too many of us struggle with diet and exercise.

Smoking, too, is creeping back up. In just one year, smoking rates jumped from 10.7% to 17.2%. After years of progress, more people are lighting up again, and vaping – especially among young people – is rising fast. We know the risks: lung disease, cancer, heart problems. But quitting isn’t easy, and stress, habit, and social pressure all play a role.

Life with additional challenges

Living with illness or disability makes everyday life harder. One in four people in our constituency is classed as disabled – far higher than the national average. Nearly half of local households have at least one disabled person. The further up the valleys you go, the higher these numbers climb. We need to tackle all the factors which mean the percentage of people who identify as disabled is 6% higher on one side of the valley in Ferndale and Maerdy than the other side of the valley in Pentre.

Cwm Taf University Health Board recorded the highest number of mental health admissions in Wales in 2021/22. That tells us something important: when people need help, they are often reaching crisis point before they get it. That’s not a failure of the people – it’s a failure of the system to catch problems early and provide proper support.

A Community That Steps Up

People here are proud, hardworking, and tough. Nobody needs an MP telling them how to live. But if we want to see real change in health outcomes, it starts with us – how we eat, how we move, how we take care of ourselves and our families.

At the same time, we can push for better local services, more support for quitting smoking and healthy eating, and real investment in preventative care. It’s not about waiting for the government or the NHS to fix things for us – it’s about taking action where we can and demanding better where we should.

Nobody in Wales doubts the importance of the NHS. We cherish it, and we know how vital it is to our communities. But we also see that it’s under immense strain. GP appointments are harder to get, waiting lists for hospital treatment are long, and mental health services are stretched thin. This isn’t down to lack of effort from our doctors, nurses, and healthcare staff—they work tirelessly. Where we can each take more responsibility for our own health, where the community can help provide the kind of support which makes us all fitter, healthier and happier, we must step in.

What Needs to Change

  • Better access to mental health and preventative care
  • More support for quitting smoking and improving our diet
  • Safe, affordable spaces to exercise and connect
  • A culture that values wellbeing – without judgement

My targets for A Healthier Community

  • Bring down hospital and GP waiting lists year-on-year.
  • Bring our smoking rates back to 10% or lower by 2030.
  • Prevent young people from vaping, ending the cycle of nicotine addiction.
  • Reduce child obesity to under 10% and adult obesity to 20% by 2035.
  • Improve life expectancy and lower the premature death rate so Rhondda and Ogmore is in the top half of Welsh constituencies rate by 2035.
  • Reduce the number of residents who are out of work for health-related issues.

Action from the Labour Government

Health is devolved to the Senedd. Working in partnership the two Labour Governments will:

  • Modernise and invest in our NHS so it can meet demands and evolve for the future.
  • Train record numbers of doctors and nurses and continue free prescriptions for all.
  • Ban vapes from being branded, advertises or appealing to children.
  • Increase the age you can legally buy cigarettes so the next generation of children will never become smokers.
  • Banning advertising junk food to children and stopping the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s.
  • Build towards establishment of a National Care and Support Service.
  • Support more people with health conditions or disabilities into the workforce.
  • Establish Mental Health hubs, equipped with the latest mental health expertise and suicide prevention strategies.

My Local Action Plan

  • Promote men’s mental health groups locally.
  • Ensure local vape shops comply with the law and don’t target local kids.
  • Work with Senedd members and Welsh Government to roll out health surgeries and services to every corner of Rhondda and Ogmore.
  • Improve oral hygiene by increasing access to NHS dentistry across all four valleys.
  • Ensure local residents with disabilities who are able to work are given equal chances to work, removing barriers to employment.
  • Share resources and health advice to Rhondda and Ogmore residents and establish an online health hub to improve their health.
  • Improve our Casework to Service connections so residents who contact my office are also provided with additional support by local services.
  • Champion a disability-inclusive community.