Building an NHS that’s there for people with Long Covid and ME.
 
Action for ME (AfME) and the ME Association (MEA), both give full details of this new campaign on their websites.

From the ME Association (MEA) website:
You can support #ThereForME by:

1. Signing the open letter by 02 August (open to all ME/LC patients and carers in the UK).
2. Sharing the policy brief and #ThereForME campaign on social media.
3. Writing to your MP to share the policy brief and recommendations.
4. Subscribing to the #ThereForME substack to stay updated on the campaign.
   

 
AfME announce -
#ThereForME campaign
July 23, 2024
#ThereForME is a new campaign led by patients and carers calling for an NHS that’s there for people with ME and Long Covid. The new Labour Government has come into office with a powerful promise: to transform a broken healthcare system, building an NHS that is fit for the future.
 
To achieve this, the NHS must deliver for people with Long Covid and ME.
#ThereForME have published a new report, drawing on data from over 300 people with Long Covid/ME (+ their carers) and endorsed by 15 organisations, including Action for M.E.
 
 
The MEA announce -
Building an NHS that’s there for people with Long Covid and ME
July 23, 2024
 
ThereForME is a patient- and carer-led campaign calling for an NHS that’s there for people with ME and Long Covid. The new Labour Government has come into office with a powerful promise: to transform a broken healthcare system, building an NHS that is fit for the future.
 
To achieve this, the NHS must deliver for people suffering with Long Covid and ME. We have published a new policy brief, drawing on data from over 300 people with Long Covid/ME and endorsed by 15 organisations including the ME Association.  We’re calling for a transformation in care for people with Long Covid and ME: an NHS that’s there for them when they need it, offering safe care and access to the best that modern science can offer. 
 
 
Sajid Javid, former MP for Bromsgrove.
AfME announce
Sajid Javid in The Times
July 20, 2024
Ahead of the landmark inquiry into the death of Maeve Boothby O'Neill, Sajid Javid, former MP and Health Secretary has called for Labour finish the work he began in 2021-22, stating…
Read more >>
 
 
How to support the campaign -
AfME and the MEA  both give full details of this new campaign on their websites.

•  Action for ME  •  Government U.K.  •  M.E. Association  •  N.H.S. 
•  Post COVID Syndrome (Long COVID) 

Following the General Election, Action for M.E. and the ME Association have provided the following update, as joint-Secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on ME.
 
“ We understand the need to ensure that ME is kept firmly on the agenda of the new Government and that the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on ME plays an important part in this.
As is parliamentary procedure, all APPG’s are required to disband following the call of a general election and must then be reconstituted, once the election has concluded, and a new Government is in place.
 
Sadly, the APPG’s previous Chair, Carol Monaghan, was not re-elected as MP for Glasgow North West and therefore, we will now work to identify and secure a new Chair.
Sonya Chowdhury, CEO of Action for M.E., and Charles Shepherd, Honorary Medical Advisor to the ME Association, will meet in the coming weeks to discuss this further.
Whilst these discussions can take place, ministerial appointments are still ongoing and therefore, with summer recess approaching, now is not an appropriate time to look at reconstituting the APPG.  Instead, whilst appointments are being made, we will use this time to review the APPG’s communication strategy to ensure that once it is reconstituted, we can share information relating to the APPG’s work and outcomes more effectively.  As part of this, we will ensure that any updates on the reconstitution of the APPG on ME and its incoming Chair, are shared as soon as possible. ”
 
 
Local MPs (Worcestershire, and surrounding areas)
The Worcestershire ME Social Group website list of Worcestershire MPs has been updated with all newly elected MPs.  Plus, this now includes a link to all West Midlands MPs.
 
On 9 July, all Worcestershire MPs heard from the Worcestershire M.E. Social Group.  This notification gave a few extracts from the Social Group website to give background information, particularly for newly elected MPs, firstly explaining that the Worcestershire ME Social Group, is for all people affected by M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), PVFS (Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome), FMS (Fibromyalgia Syndrome) and Long Covid, within Worcestershire and surrounding areas. 
 
Our MPs received Worcestershire NHS M.E./CFS and PCS Services News giving an update on the local NHS ME/CFS situation received on 3 January 2024, from Marina Townend, Specialist Occupational Therapist/Team Lead, of the ME(Myalgic Encephalomyelitis),/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and PCS (Post-Covid Syndrome) Services, plus NHS ME/CFS Specialist Services.. 
 
Also, it was pointed out to all our MPs that The Worcestershire M.E. Social Group’s Symptoms of ME/CFS information sheet  has been updated, with the “Symptoms for Suspecting ME/CFS” Section of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy) / chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management: NICE guideline [NG206], published on 29 October 2021, now included on the reverse.   .Many people have found this information sheet useful when describing how they feel, and explaining their situations to their doctors.  Hopefully you will also find it useful when you contact your MP,
 
 
All-Party Parliamentary Group APPG on ME
A cross-party voice in Westminster building change for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) seeks to improve health, social care, education and employment opportunities for people with ME and encourage biomedical research into the cause and treatment of ME.

•  Action for ME  •  A.P.P.G  •  M.E. Association  •  MP  •  Worcestershire  •  Worcestershire M.E. Social Group

Action for ME (AfME), Joint Secretariat for the APPG together with the ME Association (MEA), thank Carol Monaghan, and update us on the current APPG on ME situation.
 
APPG on ME Update - Carol Monaghan 
July 05, 2024
Carol Monaghan, previously Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on ME and MP for Glasgow West, has lost her seat in the general election.  As joint-Secretariat for the APPG, we will now be working closely with the ME Association to identify a new Chair and to reconstitute the APPG.
 
All of us from Action for M.E. would likely to sincerely thank Carol for her incredible dedication and commitment to people with ME and Charing the APPG over recent years.  It has been an honour to work alongside her, and we are all deeply sorry that we will no longer be able to work with her in this way.  We will ensure that updates relating to the APPG are shared as soon as they are available.
 
 
Our thanks from Worcestershire to Carol. 
Just search for Monaghan on the Worcestershire ME Social Group website to see how much Carol Monaghan has been involved with helping people living with M.E. during the her time as Chair of the APPG on ME.

•  Action for ME  •  A.P.P.G  •  MP  •  Worcestershire M.E. Social Group

Please join us, at our Afternoon Café Meeting on Wednesday, 10 July, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, in the Next Café, above the Next store at the Elgar Retail Park, Blackpole, Worcester, WR3 8HP.  (There is a lift and escalator in the store, plus plenty of parking, including blue badge spaces near the main entrance.)  
 
All people with M.E., CFS, FMS, Long Covid, and their carers, friends and relatives, are welcome at all Worcestershire M.E. Social Group gatherings - please join us whenever it suits you.
 
Future Afternoon Café Meetings will also be on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, at the Next Café.  Further information with all 2024 dates listed is available on our Meetings page.

•  Local News  •  Meetings  •  Worcestershire  •  Worcestershire M.E. Social Group