UK: "Minister for loneliness appointed to continue Jo Cox's work"

[Andy]

Seems to me that this could be an opportunity to raise the profile of those with severe ME, hopefully the better charities are able to engage with it.

A minister for loneliness, a project first started by the late MP Jo Cox, has been announced by Downing Street.

Tracey Crouch MP said she was proud to take on the "generational challenge" to tackle an issue affecting about nine million UK people, young and old.

She said she would work across political parties and with communities.

The Commission on Loneliness was first set up by Ms Cox, who was killed before the EU referendum by a man who shouted "Britain first" during the attack.

A 2017 report said loneliness was as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42708507

 

[Andy]

IiME have at least taken notice of this appointment

 

[NelliePledge]

I’m a bit grumpy today and cynical this is good in theory but I’m a bit concerned that she’s also minister for sport and will be all about getting people “active”. Definitely some education about people with severe ME will be needed.

 

[Andy]

Breaking the isolation, a post by a mother of a child with severe ME.

 

[Woolie]

I’m a bit grumpy today and cynical this is good in theory but I’m a bit concerned that she’s also minister for sport and will be all about getting people “active”. Definitely some education about people with severe ME will be needed.

Yes, I'm a bit worried about any government's motives for poking around in people's private lives with the aims of reducing healthcare costs. It so often ends up in intrusive constraints and edicts.

I think I can imagine a great episode of Black Mirror, where fat people are required to wear implants that impede their ability to view food adverts and to make purchases from food shops and restaurants. Or maybe it would give them a shock for attempting to do so? Oh, and regular, aversive reminders that they haven't done their day's exercise! You might have overdrinkers being similarly "treated". You can already visualise the tragic ending...

There was this crazy article in the BMJ the other day about how UK pubs should be required to reduce the standard size of a UK wine glass to encourage less wine consumption! Now, I know you brits like a drink or two, I'm not denying that. And its probably a threat to some people's health. But somehow I don't think its the pub wine glass size that's the problem. BMJ, can you not do better than that?