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[UK]Ask your MP to attend the APPG on ME meeting

Snowdrop

Rebel without a biscuit
Messages
2,933
I'm probably missing something but I don't see a problem with contacting MP's for the APPG meeting and expecting AfME to come through with a clean statement that will lay to rest any niggling concerns that patients have regarding their views on PACE.

Trust is earned that's why transparency is so important. I really don't think this is asking too much of AfME.
I acknowledge that your concern is with getting MP's to the meeting and not with AfME. Whether that should impact what people do in this regard my opinion is in this instance to go with it but I would like to see AfME pressed on this point. As uncomfortable as it may be for them it is not enough to just let it go and assume. This is an issue on which they need to be seen to be on the side of science and patients.
 

slysaint

Senior Member
Messages
2,125
Last chance for people to email their MPs before tomorrows meeting, all details in my original post.

@charles shepherd , could this type of reminder be a useful thing to do before every meeting? How often do they take place? If it would be of use then I can create it each time.

"The APPG on M.E. has been conducting an inquiry into social care for people with M.E. and, at its next meeting in January, will discuss evidence gathered in order to decide on inquiry recommendations. This evidence is based on a number of sources. It's being held on Tuesday 17 January, 2pm to 3pm, in Room T at Portcullis."
 

charles shepherd

Senior Member
Messages
2,239
"The APPG on M.E. has been conducting an inquiry into social care for people with M.E. and, at its next meeting in January, will discuss evidence gathered in order to decide on inquiry recommendations. This evidence is based on a number of sources. It's being held on Tuesday 17 January, 2pm to 3pm, in Room T at Portcullis."

The main business for the APPG on ME on January 17th will be the inquiry that is being conducted into all aspects of social care in relation to ME/CFS - which is a obviously a very important practical issue for many people with severe ME/CFS

If anyone on PR has problems, comments or concerns relating to obtaining or funding social care, or using social care, or training of social care staff, then please get in touch with your MP with your evidence and ask them to both join the APPG on ME and to attend the APPG meeting on January 17th

As people are probably already aware, APPG on ME meetings are no longer open to the public
 

AndyPR

Senior Member
Messages
2,516
Location
Guiding the lifeboats to safer waters.
Reusing this thread to request UK people to contact their MPs to ask them to attend the next meeting, which is on Tuesday 17th January. Details are below in the template letter, to find your MP and his/her contact details use http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/

A Facebook event has also been started for this https://www.facebook.com/events/316368215423976/, from which I have copied the template letter.

Dear [MP’s name]

I am one of the 250,000 people in the UK living with the chronic, neurological condition myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.). M.E. is a widely misunderstood illness, and many of those affected experience considerable barriers in accessing healthcare, welfare benefits and social care.

{You can personalise the letter by sharing your personal experience of M.E. here. We recommend keeping it to a single paragraph, as experience tells us that letters kept to one page in length are most effective.}

At a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on M.E. in January, parliamentarians will review evidence presented as part of the APPG’s social care inquiry into the shocking lack of appropriate service provision for this vulnerable patient group.

Please would you attend this meeting to help shape inquiry recommendations? It's being held on Tuesday 17 January, 2pm to 3pm, in Room T at Portcullis House and any time you can spare would be much appreciated.

The secretariat for the APPG on M.E. can provide more details and answer any questions you might have, including about joining the APPG, which exists to improve the lives of people with this condition. Please contact the secretariat on policy meconnect@meassociation.org.uk

Yours sincerely

[Your name and address - address is important to confirm you are a constituent of theirs]
 
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AndyPR

Senior Member
Messages
2,516
Location
Guiding the lifeboats to safer waters.
Sadly it's very unlikely that mine will go, or be any good if he does - he's very inexperienced and party-typical.
I'm in the same boat as you, I very much doubt that my MP will go but I think the attempt is important, it's our own way of raising ME's profile as a serious issue. Doing this won't change the ME situation in the UK overnight but it is still advocacy that almost all of us can take part in.
 

Binkie4

Senior Member
Messages
644
@MeSci My MP has been refusing invitations for a while but I kept on, regarding it as profile raising. Not sure if it will be " his thing" but he has agreed to come next time. I hope he has people to talk to. He's also a new MP and am not sure health/social issues are his thing but..........hope he learns something.
 

charles shepherd

Senior Member
Messages
2,239
Unfortunately, I have just been informed that the APPG on ME meeting tomorrow has been cancelled

I don't have any more information, or a new date, right now

CS
 

slysaint

Senior Member
Messages
2,125