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All Party Parliamentary Group Reception
On November 3rd the UKABIF Executive Committee arranged a reception at the House of Commons for Members of Parliament to raise awareness amongst MP’s of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Acquired Brain Injury and to get more MPs involved. The focus for the reception was that it is now three years since the Health Select Committee carried out their inquiry into acquired brain injury. The meeting aimed to examine how services for brain injured people have progressed since the report. Presentations were made by two Executive Committee members. Dr Keith Andrews (Director of the Institute of Complex Neuro-disability) provided up to date information from a new survey of medical and rehabilitation services in the UK. Professor Lindsay McLellan (Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine) presented the findings of the recent UKABIF survey of social service provision for brain injured people. Members of Parliament showed great interest and asked many questions. One important outcome of the meeting was that the Minister of Health (Mr Stephen Ladyman MP) offered to meet the APPG when the Nationals Service Framework on Long Term Conditions is published in 2005. We are pleased to report that the reception was well attended. Dr Stephen Ladyman MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, for the Department of Health, was able to attend in addition to the following MPs:- David Amess (Southend West) If you do not see your MPs name there then please continue to contact them and ask for their support in raising awareness of the issues around acquired brain injury. UKABIF will be arranging more APPG meetings in the New Year and we will circulate the dates and topics to all members as soon as they are available. |