Buckingham MP John Bercow, who is a patron of The ME Association, has entered the ballot for an adjournment debate on ME/CFS to be held in the House of Commons in the week beginning November 19. If he is successful, the motion will force an appearance by a Government minister to reply to the debate.

This from Dr Charles Shepherd, one of our trustees:

MAY BE REPOSTED
 
The ME Association would like to thank everyone who has made use of our 'letter to your MP' that was inserted in the October issue of ME Essential magazine (and is still available to download from the MEA website) that asked for support for a House of Commons Adjournment Debate on ME/CFS.
 
The purpose of the parliamentary debate is to bring to wider public and parliamentary attention a wide range of issues that are of great concern to people with ME/CFS.  In particular, the intention is to raise:

• the absence of government funded biomedical research
• the new NICE guideline
• the new DWP guidance on medical assessments for DLA benefit assessment purposes
• the threat of closure to existing NHS services
• the NHS Plus guidance on occupational health issues

There has been a very positive response from MPs so far and as a result we have some high profile support to add to this campaign.
 
We have now been informed by John Bercow MP, with whom we are working on the organisation of the debate, that he has entered the ballot for a debate in the week beginning 19th November.
 
The result of the ballot will be made known next Wednesday (14th November).
 
Further information will appear on the MEA website in due course.

Dr Charles Shepherd
MEA Trustee