12 May 2010
Cameron and Clegg urged to support people with M.E.
With the announcement of a new coalition Government, Action for M.E.’s CEO Sir Peter Spencer today sent letters to the new Conservative Party Prime Minister, David Cameron and his Liberal Democrat Deputy, Nick Clegg, urging them not to make people with M.E. pay the price of economic recovery.
"People with long-term fluctuating illnesses like M.E. already suffer from the budgetary constraints and targets which limit the health, welfare and social care services which they so desperately need," he wrote. "This is grossly unfair. It is also economically unsound because M.E. healthcare interventions are not expensive and every penny that is not spent on early diagnosis and medical treatment results in many pounds being spent on social care and welfare support.
"M.E. is a chronic, fluctuating illness, recognised by the NHS and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to be as disabling as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, congestive heart failure, and other chronic conditions yet it receives nowhere near the same degree of recognition or funding.
"It is within your gift to take a simple but imaginative initiative that would instigate change towards a better life for people with M.E. Please would you ask each of the relevant ministers in the new cabinet to champion the seven key recommendations in the Election manifesto for M.E. and invite the new Secretary of State for Health to let you have a costed plan for implementing the 11 key recommendations in the 2010 All Party Parliamentary Group for M.E. Inquiry into NHS Services.
"The 250,000 adults and children in the UK need your help and understanding to overturn the ignorance, prejudice and injustice they experience."
Action for M.E. is writing to all new and returning MPs with a copy of the Manifesto for M.E.
If you would like to lend your support and write to your your local MP, we have drafted some sample campaign letters, to M.E.-friendly MPs and to other MPs we're not sure about, to get you started.
For more (free) copies of the manifesto contact Policy Officer, Tris Rodriguez or call her on 0117 930 1325.
