2nd December 2008
Neurological Alliance Day
24 November 2008
Annual General Meeting
10-11.30am, Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, SW1H 9NH
Members and Regional Neurological Alliances attended this closed session to discuss the internal business of the Alliance. Our Annual Report was approved by those present and election of Trustees took place.
Two 2007-8 Trustees have stepped down from the Executive Committee for 2008-9:
Phil Butcher, Chief Executive of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign Diana King, Trent Neurological Alliance
Many thanks go out to them both for their contributions as Trustees of the Alliance and we look forward to continuing to work with them in other capacities in the future.
We are very pleased that all other 2007-8 Trustees have agreed to continue on in their roles for the forthcoming year and we welcome three new Trustees to the Alliance for 2008-9:
Sue Millman, Chief Executive, Ataxia UK Alan Pulford, Parkinson’s Disease Society Russell Stronach, Northern Neurological Alliance
The Alliance looks forward to an active year under the Governance of all our Trustees.
Levers for Change learning event
11.45am-4pm, Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, SW1H 9NH
Following on from the Neurological Alliance AGM, the Levers for Change learning event co-hosted by the Department of Health and the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) was open to all delegates interested in attending. The audience was very widespread, including Neurological Alliance members, local campaigners, Department of Health representatives and practitioners, amongst others. This proved to be a very practical and focused event, involving scenario based workshops and presentations from some excellent speakers. Please see the given presentations below:
Dr Steve Feast, Senior Advisor in Health and Wellbeing, Department of Health
World Class Commissioning: how it can help us achieve better services
Barbara Howe, Director of Specialised Commissioning, North East London -
How to work with commissioners to achieve better services
Professor Chris Clough, Consultant Neurologist, King’s College Hospital, London and Neurology Advisor, Department of Health
From the NSF to the Darzi Review
Janet Crampton, National Commissioning Lead, Department of Health Social Care Programmes
Partnership working across health, social care and the voluntary sector
Making Welfare Reform Work for People with a Neurological Condition
Parliamentary Reception and Briefing
4.30-6pm, Jubilee Room, House of Commons, Westminster, SW1A 0AA
Neurological conditions vary considerably; but almost all will at some point affect people’s needs in the workplace or ability to maintain employment. Good welfare reform will provide help for those who want to stay in work and protection for those who can’t; personalisation is key.
The Alliance would like to ensure that the needs of all people with a neurological condition are addressed by the Welfare Reform. This Parliamentary Reception focused on addressing this matter, and was held in association with a number of our member organisations: Epilepsy Action, The Migraine Trust, MND Association, Parkinson’s Disease Society, PSP Association, Stroke Association, Sue Ryder Care and UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF). It was kindly sponsored by John Pugh MP, Tim Boswell MP and Paul Truswell MP.
Speakers included Lord Walton of Detchant, who highlighted the importance of shaping this legislation to benefit all people with a neurological condition; Dr. Diane Playford, who provided a briefing on her research into supporting people who want to stay in work; and Sarah Joiner, who shared her experiences of balancing work and living with a neurological condition.
With the support of all those who participated in the event, we are working towards Making Welfare Reform Work for People with a Neurological Condition, and have produced a briefing on this, which can be downloaded here:
But we need your help to assure the very best for people with a neurological condition.
Why not send this out to your MPs and Parliamentary contacts and help us to:
- Ensure that neurological conditions are fully addressed in the forthcoming Welfare Reform.
- Raise the profile of neurological conditions amongst parliamentarians.
We truly believe that by uniting the voices of the neurological community we become Stronger Together.