Building on the Foundations
Shocking gaps in essential services
Our Building on the Foundations report, which aims to improve access to specialist care, was launched in December 2007. We uncovered alarming gaps in the provision of essential services and have called for immediate action to be taken in order to improve care received by families and patients. Building on the Foundations
Health professionals and people living with muscle disease have been actively involved throughout this campaign, which is now having an impact across the UK.
We are now setting up regional Campaigns Groups – ‘Muscle Groups’ – which will help to give local families a powerful voice when campaigning to improve services in their local area.
If you want to improve your local services, please get in touch:
0207 803 4847
campaigns@muscular-dystrophy.org
Action around the country
- Action in the South West
- Action in the East of England
- Action in the West Midlands
- Building on the Foundations in Wales
- Building on the Foundations in Scotland
- Building on the Foundations in Northern Ireland
Action in the South West:
Our campaign in England is leading to an impressive £1 million investment in neuromuscular services in the South West of England.
The South West Muscle Group, chaired by local campaigner Helen Starbuck, has been actively involved throughout this process, following a recent review of specialist services conducted by the South West Specialised Commissioning Group.
- News story from the South West conference in April
- South West Muscle Group launched in June
- Access to Hydrotherapy campaign launch
- Major breakthrough for South West healthcare service
Action in the East of England:
Charles Clarke MP hosted our campaigns conference in Norwich in October 2008, when families and supporters discussed the local services.
Those families and clinicians who joined forces at the event are now working with the charity to effect change in the region.
Action in the West Midlands:
Steve McCabe MP, Government Whip at the Department of Health, joined a panel of campaigners and clinicians for a discussion about local services in the West Midlands, when we held a debate in Birmingham during Muscle Disease Awareness Week in September 2008.
Building on the Foundations in Wales:
Our campaign to improve access to specialist care in Wales was launched at the Senedd in February 2008, when First Minister Rhodri Morgan addressed families, clinicians and Assembly Members.
Since the launch, the charity has provided oral evidence for the Welsh Affairs Select Committee’s Inquiry into cross border services, followed by a meeting with the Secretary of State for Wales, Paul Murphy MP, also attended by Welsh patients and clinicians.
In October, we held our first campaigns conference in Swansea. Health Minister Edwina Hart spoke at the event, which was also attended by the Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, Dr Hywel Francis MP, as well as Assembly Members Dr Dai Lloyd and Bethan Jenkins.
Dr Lloyd will chair a Cross Party Muscular Dystrophy Group in the Senedd, which will be launched later this year.
- Building on the Foundations: Wales report
- Campaigning breakthrough in Wales announced
- Welsh Health Minister speaks out on services
Building on the Foundations in Scotland:
During a lobby at Holyrood in September 2008, attended by over 100 people, we launched the Scottish version of our campaign.
A hard hitting report, which received widespread media coverage, was presented to Health Minister Shona Robison MSP during the event. We are currently calling on the Scottish Government to conduct an urgent review of services.
MSPs also addressed supporters at our annual Scottish Conference in October 2008, when they also backed our campaign and pledged to continue raising these important issues in the Scottish Parliament.
Building on the Foundations in Northern Ireland:
Our Building on the Foundations campaign in Northern Ireland launched in February 2009 at a lobby at Stormont, attended by over 100 people.
Government Minister, Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA, was presented with the hard hitting report at the event. We will be seeking meetings with the key decision makers in Northern Ireland.
MLAs welcomed the opportunity to meet with local families and pledged to support them in the Northern Ireland Assembly on the key issues highlighted.
