Opher, originally from Oxfordshire, attended to a comprehensive school before studying medicine at St Mary's Hospital Medical School in London. Prior to becoming and MP he worked and lived in Dursley as a full-time GP for "almost exactly 29 years," with his wife Rachel; their three children attended the local Rednock School. He was awarded an MBE in 2016 for introducing and advocating social prescribing (now part of NHS policy nationwide) and was instrumental in the building of the Vale Community Hospital. Chairman of the Stroud Locality NHS, Opher headed the Covid-19 vaccination program locally and pledged to keep a day a week for patients in his practice after his election, a promise he renewed after his election.[2]
Simon made his maiden speech on 5th September 2024 in a debate on renewable energy.
He sits on a number of All Party Parliamentary Groups, and is Chair of the Health Group and Vice-Chair of the Net Zero Group.
In November 2024, Opher co-ordinated a group of MPs who are also medics backing assisted dying. The cross-party group called on colleagues to support legislation from Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, calling on Parliament to be “brave enough to change the law in this difficult area for the benefit of patients”.[6]
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