The APPG for ABI held its Annual General Meeting on 5th February 2020. Chris Bryant, MP was unanimously voted in to retain the Chair whilst Vice Chair positions were confirmed as Sir John Hayes MP, Liz Twist MP, Carolyn Harris MP, Christina Rees MP, Peter Kyle MP and Andy McDonald MP. The position of Treasurer was retained by Lord Ramsbotham and Scott Mann MP was elected as Secretary.
The group reviewed their work plan for the year ahead which would commence on 6th February 2020 with a debate in Westminster Hall. This will be followed by a round table to discuss the issue of veterans with Acquired Brain injuries and a second reviewing Universal Credit and PIP. A debate on Education and Brain Injury will also be sought in 2020.
The group will host a reception during May 2020 to allow those suffering from ABI to meet with their MPs in Parliament. The event will extend to carers and those working in the field and will seek to consolidate the collaboration between survivors, carers, charities, professional organisations and companies.
UKABIF was confirmed to continue to provide the secretariat for the group.
Chris Bryant said, ‘ there is much work to be done to improve services and support for people with brain injuries.’
Chloe Hayward thanked Chris, Lord Ramsbotham and other MPs for their support.
In terms of Veterans, do you have anyone ‘from the coalface’ that knows the issues we’re facing & speaks the same language of the soldiers?
I contacted the Director from the new Office of Veteran Affairs on Brain Injuries regarding Neurotoxicity & TBI and got the usual Sanctuary Trauma response: “Hi Dave, many apologies for the delay - my bad! I have to confess this one slipped through the cracks but I should have come back to you sooner. In essence, the research we have looked at does not support the view that Larium is a significant cause of long term MH problems for many people. It may be for a few but not for many. In terms of mTBI what we have seen suggests much the same: it’s a problem for a small number but not many. None of this means that the small numbers these conditions do affect should be ignored or overlooked.”
So in essence, the MOD has done nothing! Even after the Defence Select Committee’s Mefloquine(Lariam) review in 2015, & TBI review in November 2018!🤷🏼♂
UKABIF is a registered charity number 1128284 and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales Company Number: 6520608. Address of the Company's Registered Office: 124 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX
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