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Presentation of Declaration to European Commission

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Category: Press Releases
Published on Saturday, 30 August 2008 10:07
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EU FlagUpdate: Details of MEPs that have signed declaration available here and have been updated as of 28/10.

FMA UK has sent letters to ALL UK MEPs and MPs regarding the signing of a written Declaration on Fibromyalgia being presented by the European Network of Fibromyalgia Associations (ENFA) at the European Parliament.  You will find a copy below.

However, as usual, far more notice will be taken of individual requests to MEPs than one letter from FMA UK so we really would appreciate everyone following this up by contacting the MEPs in your region asking them to support us and sign.  We need around 380 signatures on the Declaration or it will NOT be presented to the European Parliament and it will go no further. We will then have missed a tremendous opportunity to raise the profile of fibromyalgia both in the UK and Europe.

The Declaration will be available for signing for 3 months from 1st September 2008 so if your MEP misses this session there will be other opportunities. ENFA will publish a list of those MEPs who have signed on their website http://www.enfa-europe.eu so you will be able to check if your MEP has signed. A FMA UK list is available here which is correct as of 28/10/08.

Here at FMA UK we are passionate in our efforts to raise awareness of this debilitating illness and we really need your help to take this to the next level and we are determined to do as much as possible to ensure that it receives the 380 signatures required to take this further. The future diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia sufferers will take an important step forward if this Declaration is adopted.

FMA UK joined forces with other Fibromyalgia Associations within Europe and ENFA, an international not for profit organisation registered in Brussels, Belgium, was formed. The objectives are to represent the 14 million Europeans that are suffering from fibromyalgia in Europe and raise awareness at the European level by lobbying the European Institutions. At present, 11 countries are represented: France, United Kingdom, Holland, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Italy.

At the European Parliament in May 2008, a Global Impact Study, conducted by Harris Interactive, was presented which showed that 82% of primary care physicians and 63% of specialists in the UK reported that they had little or no fibromyalgia training. In fact, the UK had the worst results compared with France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. Those of us involved with fibromyalgia in the UK are not surprised.

We need to change attitudes of decision makers throughout Europe so that fibromyalgia is recognized; health professionals are better able to deal with fibromyalgia patients; diagnosis and treatments are readily available; further research funds are accessible and data on fibromyalgia is collected.

The signature of every UK MEP could make all the difference between success and failure for the Declaration and the following list contains all the UK MEPs. You can write to ALL those in your area so please take a little of your time to contact them.

Jean Turner
Trustee and All Party Parliamentary Group Co-ordinator



Written declaration on fibromyalgia presented by the European Network of Fibromyalgia Associations (ENFA)

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 116 of its Rules of Procedure,

  • whereas nearly 14 million persons in the EU and 1 to 3 % of the general population worldwide suffer from fibromyalgia, a debilitating condition resulting in chronic widespread pain,
  • whereas WHO has recognised fibromyalgia as a disease since 1996, but it is still not coded in the official index of conditions in the EU, which excludes patients from formal diagnosis,
  • whereas patients with fibromyalgia make more GP visits, have more specialist referrals, are issued more sick notes and receive more in-patient services, thus generate a considerable economic burden for Europe,
  • whereas people with fibromyalgia struggle to lead full and independent lives, unless they have access to appropriate treatment and support.
  1. Calls on the Commission and the Council to:

    • Develop a Community strategy on fibromyalgia in order to recognize this condition as a disease;
    • Help raising awareness of the condition and facilitate access to information for health professionals and patients, by supporting European and National Awareness campaigns;
    • Encourage Member States to improve access to diagnosis and treatment;
    • Facilitate research on fibromyalgia through the work programmes of the EU 7thFramework Programme for Research and future research programmes;
    • Facilitate the development of programs for collecting data on fibromyalgia.

  2. Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories, to the Council, the Commission and the parliaments of the Member States.


 

UK MEPs
MEPs represent regions rather than specific constituencies. The map shows the various regions in the UK. A list of all the MEPs for each region has been compiled and can be found below in alphabetical area by region. You can write to ALL the MEPs listed in your area as that is the only way we can be assured that they will all be aware of fibromyalgia. 

You can download a standard letter from here. It will be more successful if you personalise this standard letter when you send it to your MEP's as they are more likely to act.

 

 

 

This list was correct as at 21st August 2008

Full details can be found at http://www.europarl.org.uk/uk_meps/MembersMain.htm


  

EAST MIDLANDS - Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland and Leicestershire;

Mr Roger Helmer

East Midlands Conservatives, 9 Prospect Court, Courteenhall Road,
Blisworth, Northamptonshire, NN7 3DG

Mr Robert Kilroy-Silk

P O Box 610, Amersham, Bucks, HP7 9WZ

Mrs Glenis Willmott

23 Barratt Lane, Attenborough, Notts NG9 6AD

Mr Christopher Heaton-Harris

23 Queen Street, Market Rasen, Lincoln, LE8 3EN

Mr Derek Clark

Rowan House, 23 Billing Road, Northampton, NN1 5AT

Mr Bill Newton Dunn

10 Church Lane, Navenby, Lincoln, LN5 0EG

EASTERN - Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk

Mr Geoffrey Van Orden

Conservative Office, 88 Rectory Lane, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1RF

Mr Jeffrey Titford

Rooms 1 & 2, Rochester House, 145 New London Road, Chelmsford,
Essex, CM2 0QT

Mr Richard Howitt

The Labour European Office, Unit 3, Frohock House, 222 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3NF

Mr Robert Sturdy

153 St Neots Road, Hardwick, Cambridge, CB23 7QJ

Mr Andrew Duff

Orwell House, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0PP

Mr Christopher Beazley

c/o Hertford & Stortford Conservative Association, 4a Swains Mill, Crane Mead, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 9PY

Mr Tom Wise

21a High Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1DN

LONDON

Mr John Bowis OBE

PO Box 262, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 4WJ

Mr Claude Moraes

65 Barnsbury Street, London, N1 1EJ

Baroness Sarah Ludford

London Liberal Democrat, European Office, 36 B St Peter's Street, London, N1 8JT

Dr Charles Tannock

1A Chelsea Manor Street, London, SW3 5RP

Mrs Mary Honeyball

4G Shirland Mews, London, W9 3DY

Mr Gerard Batten

PO Box 51542, London, SE1 3XS

Mr Syed Kamall

Unit 11, Kingsmill Business Park, Chapel Mill Lane, Kingston, Surrey, KT1 3GZ

Mrs Jean Lambert

Suite 58, The Hop Exchange, 24 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1TY

Mr Robert Evans

101 High Street, Feltham, Middlesex, TW13 4HG

NORTH EAST -  County Durham, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and Tees Valley

Mr Stephen Hughes

North East Euro Constituency Office, Room 4/38, County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UR

Mr Martin Callanan

Aston House, Redburn Road, Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 1NB

Mrs Fiona Hall

55a Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 3HN

NORTH WEST - Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria

Mr Gary Titley

Euro Office, 16 Spring Lane, Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 2TQ

Mr Den Dover

30 Countess Way, Euxton, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 6PT

Mr Chris Davies

87A Castle Street, Edgeley, Stockport, SK3 9AR

Mrs Arlene McCarthy

Express Networks, 1 George Leigh Street, Manchester, M4 5DL

Mr John Whittaker

7 King Street, Lancaster, LA1 1JN

Mr David Sumberg

14b Montford Enterprise Centre, Wynford Square, Salford, M50 2SN

Mr Brian Simpson

Lakeside, Alexandra Park, Prescot Road, St. Helens, WA10 3TT

Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Atkins

Manor House, Lancaster Road, Garstang, Lancashire, PR3 1JA

Mr Sajjad Karim

442-444 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 0BQ

NORTHERN IRELAND

Mr Jim Allister QC

European Office, 139 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 3BE

Mrs Bairbre de Brún

Teach Uí Chonghaile, 147 Bóthar Bhaile Andarsan, BÉAL FEIRSTE (Tuaisceart na hÉireann), BT11 9BW

Mr James Nicholson

European Office, 429 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 2LN

SCOTLAND

Mr David Martin

PO Box 27030, Edinburgh, EH10 7YP

Mr Ian Hudghton

8 Old Glamis Road, Dundee, DD3 8HP

Mr Struan Stevenson

SCCO, 83 Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2ER

Mrs Catherine Stihler

Constituency Office, 25 Church Street, Inverkeithing, Fife, KY11 1LG

Mrs Elspeth Attwooll

Centrum Offices, 3rd Floor, 38 Queen Street, Glasgow G1 3DX

Mr Alyn Smith

107 McDonald Road, Edinburgh, EH7 4NW

Mr John Purvis CBE

PO Box 29222, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8WL

SOUTH EAST - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Hampshire, Kent, Sussex and the Isle of Wight

Mr Daniel Hannan

The Coach House, Worthy Park, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1AN

Mr Nigel Farage

The Old Grain Store, Church Lane, Lyminster, nr Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 7QJ

Mr Nirj Deva

Conservative Office, 55 Cherry Orchard, Staines, TW18 2DQ

Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne

ASP 10G209, European Parliament, Rue Wiertz, B-1047 Brussels

Mr Peter Skinner

PO Box 22, Headcorn, Ashford, Middx TN27 9WP

Mr James Elles

Disraeli House, 12 Aylesbury End, Beaconsfield, Bucks, HP9 1LW

Mr Ashley Mote

P O Box 216, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 4WY

Mr Richard Ashworth

5 Hazelgrove Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3PH

Dr Caroline Lucas

Suite 58, The Hop Exchange, 24 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1TY

Mrs Sharon Bowles

Felden House, Dower Mews, High Street, Berkhamsted, HP4 2BL

SOUTH WEST - Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon and Cornwall

 

Mr Neil Parish

9c Mill Park Industrial Estate, White Cross Road, Woodbury Salterton, Exeter, Devon, EX5 1EL

Mr Graham Booth

Unit 1, King Charles Business Park, Old Newton Road, Heathfield, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 6UT

Mr Graham Watson

Bagehot's Foundry, Beard's Yard, Bow Street, Langport, Somerset, TA10 9PS

Dr Caroline Jackson

New House, Hanney Road, Southmoor, Abingdon, OX13 5HR

Mr Glyn Ford

Belle Vue Centre, 6 Belle Vue Road, Cinderford, Gloucestershire, GL14 2AB

Mr Roger Knapman

Office of Roger Knapman MEP, Mill Lodge, Great Torrington, Devon
EX38 8PH

Mr Giles Chichester

Longridge, West Hill, Ottery St Mary, Devon, EX11 1UX

WALES

Mrs Glenys Kinnock

Labour European Office, Third Floor, Transport House, 1 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9SD

Mrs Jill Evans

Basement Rear, 23 High Street, Chancery Lane, Cardigan, SA43 1HD

Mr Jonathan Evans

4 Penlline Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF4 2XS

Mrs Eluned Morgan

Labour European Office, Third Floor, Transport House, 1 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9SD

WEST MIDLANDS - Black Country, Birmingham, Coventry, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire

Mr Philip Bushill-Matthews

The Manor House, Harbury, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV33 9HX

Mr Michael Cashman

West Midlands Labour European Office, Terry Duffy House, Thomas Street, West Bromwich, B70 6NT

Mr Mike Nattrass

West Midlands Regional Office, 123 New John Street, Birmingham, B6 4LD

Mrs Liz Lynne

55 Ely Street, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6LN

Mr Philip Bradbourn OBE

285 Kenilworth Road, Balsall Common, Coventry, CV7 7EL

Mrs Neena Gill

West Midlands Labour European Office, Terry Duffy House, Thomas Street, West Bromwich, B70 6NT

Mr Malcolm Harbour

Manor Cottage, Manor Road, Solihull, West Midlands, B91 2BL

YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER - North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, The Humber

Mrs Linda McAvan

Labour Constituency Office, 79 High Street, Wath-upon-Dearne, S63 7QB

Mr Timothy Kirkhope

Beechwood Farm, Main Street, Scotton, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 9HY

Mrs Diana Wallis

PO Box 176, BROUGH, East Yorkshire, HU15 1UX

Mr Godfrey Bloom

27 Wressle, Selby, North Yorkshire, YO8 6ET

Mr Richard Corbett

2 Blenheim Terrace, Leeds, LS2 9JG

Mr Edward McMillan-Scott

Boston Lodge, 42 High Street, Boston Spa, Yorkshire, LS23 6EA


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