Gettin' manifestin'

Action for M.E. has issued its 2010 election manifesto for M.E.

Its aims are summarised as follows, but it's well worth a look at the whole document. In fact, I'll post an aim a day for a week!

Summary:

1. Put an end to inequalities in health provision faced by adults, young people and children with M.E.

2. Bring about a fundamental shift in attitude in welfare policy and practice towards chronic fluctuating illnesses.

3. See that robust scientific evidence of the biology of this disease is obtained and disseminated across all government departments.

4. Guarantee that all children, young people and adults with M.E. who are well enough have access to education and receive appropriate support to fulfil their potential.

5. Ensure that all young people and adults with M.E. who are well enough have access to employment and will receive appropriate support to fulfil their potential.

6. See that all adults, young people, and children with M.E. receive optimal respite care, support and information.

7. Make sure that all carers of adults, young people and children with M.E. receive optimal support and information.

AFME have also put together a campaign letter that can be sent with a copy of the manifesto to local politicians, press, etc. If you have time to send this to your local candidates, even by email, please do. If you don't have M.E., please consider still sending this letter or your own variant on it. Only when enough concern is expressed about our condition by non-sufferers will we break through the barrier of 'M.E. patients and campaigners are crazy people'.

Dear____________________________________

I would like to register my strong interest in the issues which affect the 250,000 people with M.E in the UK, and to ask what YOUR commitment will be to tackling their problems.

Voters in our area include a significant number who have M.E. or are their close relatives, carers and friends. We all want to see genuine recognition of the reality of this chronic fluctuating illness and an end to the inequalities we face in healthcare, welfare, research, education, employment and social care. Our carers need your support, too.

A copy of our Election Manifesto for M.E. should be attached. If it isn’t you can find it on the home page of two national charities, Action for M.E. and AYME, at www.afme.org.uk and www.ayme.org.uk

Thank you.

____________________________________

Signed