1st November 2008

Carers Week 2008

The Neurological Alliance joined Carers Week in 2008 at a supporters’ membership level. The Alliance was actively involved in planning for the Week and was able to ensure that the concerns of carers for people with a neurological condition received significant attention.

Don Frances, carer for his wife Pam who has Motor Neurone Disease, was interviewed for a segment on GMTV. His questions were also put forward to Ivan Lewis, the Minister for Care at the time, and Don was also contacted by Ivan privately to discuss his experiences and the requirements of individuals with neurological conditions and their carers.

On 11 June 2008, the Alliance held a Parliamentary Reception for Carers Week, sponsored by Anne Begg MP. Turnout for this event was high, with a good number of carers, health professionals, MPs and Peers attending. Anne Begg also kindly agreed to sponsor our Early Day Motion (EDM), focused on promoting the vital role of neurological nurses in improving the quality of life of people with neurological conditions and of carers. Ann Keen, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Services, also came along to the event and gave a speech championing the EDM and widely supporting our objectives.

A number of MPs expressed their support for the Alliance’s aims at this event and have subsequently championed the Alliance through different means. With their assistance, we look forward to working to improve understanding of what it means to be a carer of an individual with a neurological condition and how to meet these carers’ needs.

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