UK: All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on ME news, 2020 onward

Discussion in 'News from organisations' started by Andy, Feb 19, 2020.

  1. JellyBabyKid

    JellyBabyKid Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Wow.

    Plus ça change..
     
  2. JohnTheJack

    JohnTheJack Moderator Staff Member

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    I mentioned in another thread that someone I was good friends with at university is now in the HoL.

    I'm minded to send him an email about the possibility of joining the ME APPG, but I want to send him some reasons for doing so. I know APPGs aren't for a purpose, but I want to give him an opportunity to do something, not just join a kind of support group.

    What would he and they be trying to achieve? What do we want from them?

    i know many want a public inquiry, but in my opinion this is currently at least unrealistic, so I won't include that.
     
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  3. Robert 1973

    Robert 1973 Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    What I would like them to help achieve is:

    1. More and better quality research to develop diagnostic tests and effective treatments. To help achieve this I think we need appropriate ring-fenced funding for high-quality ME/CFS research, among other things.

    2. Improved services based on what is actually known about ME/CFS (including the NICE gl).

    3. Formal recognition from the Government of the systemic failures which have resulted in the mistreatment of people with ME/CFS.
     
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  4. Nightsong

    Nightsong Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    This is what I'd personally like to see from a group of sympathetic politicians:

    * To push DHSC, NIHR, etc to make up for years of under-funding by ring-fencing a sum of money for biomedical & epidemiological research of very high quality and congruent with patient priorities.

    * To pressure DHSC and NHS England to do everything they can to ensure that all NHS clinics adopt the NICE guideline and also for those members that are MPs to pressure the leaders of the NHS trusts in their own constituencies to deliver better, NICE-congruent services that treat patients with respect and dignity and not based on preconceived theories; at the moment we have a postcode lottery with a patchwork of services, many of which are terrible and some areas have no provision at all.

    * To establish links with sympathetic politicians in the devolved nations' parliaments & assemblies to help press for better services in the other nations as well (as I understand it Scotland has recently lost their only ME/CFS nurse practitioner).

    * To push for a more considered approach across the NHS to very specific problems that affect severe and very severe cases, such as better help with mobility issues - local NHS wheelchair services, for instance, often refuse to help pwME - and in particular the gastroenterological problems often associated with very severe ME that require artificial nutrition. Politicians are well-placed to pressure the DHSC, NHSE and those in charge of local NHS Trusts to take a more pragmatic and sensitive approach that would help prevent future tragedies.

    * To commit to raising awareness, including patients' voices, and holding those in power - both in politics and in the medical establishment - to account.
     
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  5. bobbler

    bobbler Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    This certainly sounds not right and unusual.

    Is the norm to have these things 'open' and is that what is used for the LC one for example and how does that help and work?

    I'm intrigued to learn about what is the norm for APPGs, particularly if there are any that are operating really well and/or something that is achieving something.

    I can, however, see how both leaving a gap/not having one and the alternative of having one that isn't functioning or isn't in our interests particularly could have a significant impact. It's tricky to know given 'the prevailing winds' surrounding many time periods in ME how much APPGs and their functions impact this one way or another.
     
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  6. JohnTheJack

    JohnTheJack Moderator Staff Member

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    That's great. Thank you. In fact someone asked me a similar question the other day and I gave a similar answer.

    I'm going to email him. It will presumably go to his office so no idea whether it will even get to him. And of course I don't know whether he'll be interested.

    I hadn't thought of getting in touch with him before. He could be very useful if he were to become involved because he is absolutely loaded (all self-made) and has access to many others who are. But he may have too much going on already and not want to take on something else.
     
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  7. Kiristar

    Kiristar Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    I saw somewhere (MEA I think) that prior to the election they were just starting a report into severe ME which could be important for policy making in the wake of Maeve's inquest. I'd have liked to have contributed somehow but couldn't see a way.

    One other thing that disturbed me was to hear that there was also a LC APPG but the two had absolutely nothing to do with each other that really needed to change given the overlap and shared needs of the two communities.

    I'd also be keen to see a new APPG back the #ThereForME campaign, which looks well constructed to me.
     
  8. Kitty

    Kitty Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    As we don't yet have much on which to base a big high profile research study, I'd like the APPG to push for the basic groundwork on ME/CFS to be done.

    We don't know:

    • how many people have ME/CFS;
    • what proportion of those who develop post-infection syndromes are still affected two and five years later;
    • what effect Covid-19 has had on the numbers of people with ME/CFS;
    • what proportion of patients are able to maintain long term employment;
    • how many have a relapsing/remitting pattern, how many have symptoms that fluctuate but rarely get drastically worse or better, and how many have gradual decline;
    • whether there is a group that recovers after more than five years of illness;
    • what proportion need aids and adaptations;
    • what proportion need some carer support;
    • how many severely affected people there are across the four nations, who might be at risk of needing significant care if something tipped them into the very severe category;
    • what the economic costs are of ME/CFS.

    How can we plan health and social care provision with gaps like this? If a disease modifying treatment came along that couldn't be delivered in primary care, how would we manage it? If we're looking at the bald economics, where does ME/CFS sit on the list of healthcare concerns that force young people out of work for good, leave a proportion of them dependent on benefits, and mean they're unable to fulfil other economically important roles like caring for parents in old age?
     
  9. Dx Revision Watch

    Dx Revision Watch Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Following the July 4th General Election and House of Commons summer recess, there is no register of current APPG groups, as groups will need to reconvene in September. However the most recent register, as it had stood at 30 May 2024, listed in the region of 460 interest groups plus a substantial number of Country groups:

    https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/240530/contents.htm


    The pages for individual groups list the group's Officers, contact details, whether there are registrable benefits received by the group or not, who provides the Secretariat (which may be an organisation rep who is not a member of the group), but do not note whether an individual group has been constituted to permit attendance by members of the public.

    So unless one were to visit all the groups' websites or check their meeting minutes, it's not possible to say what is "the norm", that is, how many of the 460 odd interest groups do permit members of the public to attend and contribute to meetings, or to attend by invitation. But some groups (as was the case with the APPG on ME up until 2010) do permit members of the public to attend their meetings. All those attending the APPG on ME meetings were expected to sign a register and their names appeared in that meeting's minutes.

    Some APPG groups also have representatives from industry and lobby groups regularly attending meetings and receive often substantial sums in funding.


    I don't see an APPG specifically for Long Covid on the English Parliament Register as it stood at 30 May 2004 and the group for Coronavirus was last registered in June 2023 and appears to no longer be active.

    Those involved in the Scottish cross party group on Long Covid, including Non-MSP meeting members, are listed here:

    Involved in the group

    MSPs, individuals and organisations who participate in and support this group:

    https://www.parliament.scot/get-inv...ps/current-cross-party-groups/2021/long-covid
     
  10. Dx Revision Watch

    Dx Revision Watch Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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  11. Dx Revision Watch

    Dx Revision Watch Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    To give an idea of how many organisation reps and members of the public used to attend APPG on ME meetings:

    https://meagenda.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/appg-on-me-minutes-and-transcript-meeting-1-april-2009/

    Minutes of the meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on M.E.

    held at 1.30-3pm, Wednesday 1 April 2009


    Committee Room 20, House of Commons

    Present

    Parliamentarians

    Dr Desmond Turner MP (Chair)
    Andrew Stunell MP (Vice Chair)
    Peter Luff MP

    Parliamentary office representatives

    Koyes Ahmed, office of Dr Turner MP
    Ceri Finnayson, office of Edward Davey MP

    Secretariat
    Sir Peter Spencer (Action for ME)
    Heather Walker (Action for ME)
    Tony Britton (MEA)

    Organisations and individuals

    Dr Derek Pheby (ME Research Observatory)
    Kirsty Haywood (Royal College of Nursing)
    Sue Waddle (MERUK)
    Paul Davis (RiME)
    Jane Colby (Tymes Trust)
    Doris Jones (25% Group)
    Joy Birdsey (K&SAME)
    Jill Cooper, Warks
    Stephen Jones
    Augustin Ryan
    Alan Gold
    Annette Barclay
    Joan Duvey
    Michelle Goldberg
    Jill Cooper
    Samantha Brown with Max Cotton (BBC Politics Show)

    Apologies:

    Parliamentarians: Anne Begg MP, Angela Browning MP, Andrew Dismore MP, William Etherington MP, Kelvin Hopkins MP, Dr Brian Iddon MP, Ann Keen MP, Kerry McCarthy MP, Iris Robinson MP, Rudi Vis MP, Countess of Mar, Lord Puttnam

    Non-parliamentarians: Dr Charles Shepherd, MEA, Christine and Tanya Harrison, BRAME, Janice and Bill Kent, Member, Janet Taylor (Kirklees Independent ME Support Group), Ciaran Farrell.

    -----------------------

    At one point, verbatim transcripts of meetings were also provided by AfME.
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2024
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  12. JohnTheJack

    JohnTheJack Moderator Staff Member

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    I have now heard back from him and he has said he will gladly join the APPG.

    Malcolm and I were good friends at university, though I know many will have different political views from Lord Offord.

    It is important, though, to have support from across the political spectrum, and ME does not distinguish between those on the basis of politics. It affects everyone.
     
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  13. tornandfrayed

    tornandfrayed Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Just a thought - if David Puttnam has an interest in ME, he might be able to make a TV series/film/documentary happen.
     
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  14. NelliePledge

    NelliePledge Moderator Staff Member

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    But that list was from 20 years ago so he may no longer be active - his name wasn’t associated with the last APPG.
     
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  15. Lou B Lou

    Lou B Lou Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Press interviews David Puttnam gave years ago were not very helpful to us. He mostly spoke about his depression in one interview, emphasized how helpful 5 years of CBT was for his depression and seemed to conflate depression with his ME or CFS' in that interview. He has said that 'The disease returns between three and eight times a year for around three days at a time'

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/apr/27/health.broadcasting



    He also attributed ME to his overwork and stress, as well as to a virus.

    'Five years of cognitive therapy have given him self-knowledge. "It helped me understand the illness, but also the way in which I may have been partially responsible for creating it.'

    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/apr/27/healthandwellbeing.health
    .


    David Puttnam Retired from the Lords in 2021.

    .
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2024
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  16. Kitty

    Kitty Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    He'll be in his 80s, so probably retired from most work by now.
     
  17. Alis

    Alis Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Would you feel able to share your full email? my MP has previously shown an interest in ME. and I have wondered about writing to him. but havent for two reasons - I am severe/v. severely affected and and can have difficulty with writng/typing at times as well as having severe cognitive issues/ brain fog. And also he does have what I think looks like a job/role in the new government which would possibly keep him very busy. but it may be worth writing to him ? maybe.
    thanks.
     
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  18. JohnTheJack

    JohnTheJack Moderator Staff Member

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    Probably, certainly possibly, but which particular email would you like to see?
     
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  19. hotblack

    hotblack Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    If it helps I recently emailed my MP and kept it very simple… Now you’re in government what do you plan to do to improve healthcare, social care and research for people with ME. I’ve tried to be more lengthy and persuasive in the past but sometimes one or two simple questions does the job, especially if that’s all you are up to.
     
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  20. Alis

    Alis Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    the one u sent to the lord in the HOL. Ach ..Sorry he was an old friend , so there were maybe a few emails. no worries.
    If there were a few - asking about him joining the APPG etc and about ME . I would probably get confused :confused:
    very easily done !
     
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