New migraine toolkit launched for UK parliamentarians
We’re delighted to have recently launched our new Migraine Toolkit for parliamentarians in England, Scotland and Wales. Our drop-in events for MPs, MSPs and MS/ASs were a great success and it was fantastic to talk to so many parliamentarians and their staff about their own experiences of migraine and what can be done to help their constituents with the condition. We plan to hold another event for MLAs in Northern Ireland later in the year.
Our new toolkit was developed in partnership with parliamentarians who are affected by migraine and includes: general information about migraine; information to help caseworkers support constituents; suggestions on strengthening migraine care with local health leaders; and tips on how to be a migraine-friendly employer.
During our events in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff, we spoke to parliamentarians about a range of issues faced by people with migraine. These included the fact migraine is often dismissed or not taken seriously, how hard it can be dealing with migraine at work, migraine going undiagnosed in children and young people, and issues around access to the new CGRP mAbs medication for migraine. We also spoke to the parliamentarians about how they can improve support and healthcare for people with migraine both locally and nationally.
Many of the parliamentarians who joined us have personal experiences of migraine, highlighting just how important it is to spread the word about migraine and engage with those who haven’t been personally impacted too. It’s crucial that we increase awareness and understanding of migraine in society and break down stigma.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came to our events, particularly those who helped make them happen. Our events were supported by Caroline Nokes MP, Wayne David MP, and Rachel Maclean MP in Westminster on 17 May, Monica Lennon MSP in Edinburgh on 19 May, and Mabon ap Gwynfor MS and Mark Isherwood MS in Cardiff on 25 May.
“It was brilliant to speak to so many parliamentarians who have a genuine interest in our work and who are committed to helping people with migraine, from helping constituents unable to access life-changing medication to supporting their own staff. Our next challenge is to reach even more parliamentarians to spread the word about migraine and drive real change on both the local and national levels.”
If you’d like to help us make a difference for people with migraine, you can get in touch with your local parliamentarian and tell them about the issues faced by people with migraine. You can download a template letter here. You can download a copy of the toolkit below.
If you or a loved one needs information about migraine or support, you can call our free helpline on 0808 802 0066 or contact us online.
