13th January 2010
Welcome to 2010!
Achievements in 2009
2009 was an outstanding year of development for the Neurological Alliance, beginning with an increased commitment to strengthening the communication of the Alliance through our re-launched website, Neuro News and the Neural Hub ; the establishment of our Regional Neurological Alliance Development Project; the relocation to offices at the DANA centre; the instigation of the Neurological Alliance Policy Group and the launch of the Manifesto in June.
We were pleased to support Levers for Change events, held nationwide following the first event being successfully held at the Alliance AGM, and to hear Ann Keen MP committing to setting up a national NSF leadership/stakeholder group. It has been our pleasure to work in association with NHS Choices in improving communication and the quality of neurological information on their website.
Plans for 2010
In 2010 we are looking forward to increasing the support we provide to establishing and strengthening a national network of Regional Neurological Alliances; participating in national and local events as part of Brain Awareness Week; and the exciting possibilities of both a mid-term review of the NSF for Long Term Neurological Conditions and a potential special review run by the Care Quality Commission.
Policy and campaigning priorities
As previously announced, the post of Chief Executive has been successfully seconded to two employees of our member organisations. Clare Moonan, Health Policy and Campaigns Manager at Parkinson’s Disease Society, is the Chief Executive (External). Clare says that her main priority for the first half of 2010 is to deliver the Aliance manifesto, which calls for high quality neurology care and leadership in neurological research. She hopes to
“include Alliance members in campaigning activity wherever possible.
As there will be a general election in 2010 she stressed,
“it will be really important that we continue to build strong relationships with civil servants and policy makers as well as the Government and opposition parties, to ensure the voice of the neurological community is heard at the highest level possible.”
Membership and governance priorities
Katie Smith, Executive Office and Governance Manager at the MS Society, is the Chief Executive (Internal). Katie will be working from the Neurological Alliance offices on Monday and Tuesday each week and says she will focus her attentions on
“ensuring the Neurological Alliance is a well governed, member-focused organisation, which can accurately speak on behalf of all England’s brain and spine charities.
Katie emphasised that as a membership organisation
“the Neurological Alliance needs to be working hand in hand with all its members at a local and national level. I am looking forward to speaking with members to see how we can better support each other and to ensure we are making the most proactive difference possible.”
The Neurological Alliance will rely on the support of its members in 2010 so please get in touch with either of the new Chief Executives by email at chief.executive@neural.org.uk