At #MillionsMissing Scotland many MSPs pledged their support for people with ME, and now they have a chance to follow up on that commitment. And we need you to let them know about it! Sue Webber, MSP for Lothian, has put forward a motion that asks the Scottish Parliament to recognise the outcomes and recommendations of the stakeholder report on ME commissioned earlier this year – including education of healthcare professionals and development of specialist services.Motions are a way for MSPs to raise awareness of an issue or recognise a group, and other MSPs can choose to support it.
We’ve had confirmation that this motion will be debated in the Scottish Parliament, which will provide an opportunity for MSPs to show their support for people with ME, call on the government to make changes, and get into more detail of the issues than was possible at #MillionsMissing. The more support the motion gets, the better – so we need your help! We believe the motion will be open for MSPs to add their names in support until Friday 11th November, and we expect the debate to take place after the Christmas break.
What can you do?
MSPs have a duty to support and represent their constituents, so an email from you is the best way to get them to understand that this is an issue that affects people in their area and consider supporting the motion. The more people that get in touch, the better!
Who are your MSPs?
If you’re not sure who your MSPs are you can put your postcode into the They Work For You website to find out.
You will have eight MSPs who represent you – one constituency MSP and seven regional MSPs (don’t worry about your MP as it’s a Scottish Parliament motion). It would be great if you could email as many of these MSPs as you can.
Below are some key points to include in the email and a template email that you can copy and paste if you prefer. Please add your experience of ME if you feel able to, it helps personalise the email and will have more of an impact on your MSP.
If you get a response from your MSP it would be great if you could let us know. It’s really helpful for us to be aware of who has been contacted and told they have a constituent with ME. Thank you!
Key points for your email
These key points are to help you write your own email. There is a template email below if it is easier for you to copy and paste the text.
It is useful if you know whether or not the MSP you’re emailing attended/supported #MillionsMissing so you can mention it and either thank them or make the point that they didn’t come. There is a list of MSPs who supported in our news article about #MillionsMissing.
- [Thank you for supporting/I was sorry to see that you didn’t support] #MillionsMissing Scotland on 28th September, outside the Scottish Parliament.
- Add a few sentences explaining your experience of ME.
- Sue Webber MSP has put forward a motion that asks the Scottish Parliament to recognise the outcomes and recommendations of the stakeholder report on ME commissioned earlier this year: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/S6M-06112
- I ask you to please add your name in support of this motion to stand behind people with ME and increase the likelihood of a debate to amplify the voices of people with ME.
- Sue Webber has confirmed that the motion will be debated after the Christmas recess. Please take part in the debate and call on the Scottish Government to support people with ME across Scotland.
Note: Remember to include your full name and address in the email. Including your address is how your MSP knows that you are in their constituency and lots of them won’t read emails without it.
Template email
Feel free to copy and paste this template email and add your personal story.
It is useful if you know whether or not the MSP you’re emailing attended/supported #MillionsMissing so you can mention it and either thank them or make the point that they didn’t come. There is a list of MSPs who supported in our news article about #MillionsMissing.
Dear MSP name
[Thank you for supporting/I was sorry to see that you didn’t support] #MillionsMissing Scotland on 28th September, outside the Scottish Parliament.
As your constituent, I am now emailing to ask you to add your name to a motion put forward by Sue Webber MSP that asks the Scottish Parliament to recognise the outcomes and recommendations of the stakeholder report on ME commissioned earlier this year: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/S6M-06112
More than 21,000 people in Scotland live with ME and, sadly, this number is only set to grow as people with Long Covid are now being diagnosed with ME. There are currently no ME specialist consultants in Scotland and only one specialist nurse.
[ADD YOUR PERSONAL STORY/CONNECTION WITH ME HERE]
The new NICE guideline on the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS was published in October 2021. The stakeholder report was published in July 2022. The ME community is still waiting for any plans to be announced on development of services or increase in funding to support the implementation.
Please add your name in support of this motion to stand behind people with ME. Sue Webber has confirmed that the motion will be debated after the Christmas recess, and so I would also ask you to take part in the debate and call on the Scottish Government to support people with ME across Scotland.
I would be grateful if you could let me know if you sign the motion to support people with ME.
I look forward to your response.
Add your full name and address
You can also download a Word document version of the letter by clicking on the button below.
1 thought on “Ask your MSPs to sign motion S6M-06112 and support people with ME”
My daughter has just been diagnosed with M.E. There are no services in Lanarkshire to help her. She has been very ill. Her doctor is trying to get her help via the new long covid clinic run by NHS Lanarkshire. It’s an absolute disgrace that there appears to be no dedicated support service. This illness ruins lives as you know.
She has had to give up a responsible job that she loved and is suddenly living/surviving on benefits which has very been difficult in addition to being so ill. It pains we to see the state she can be in. Come on Scottish Government- PLEASE directly support people living with ME much better, than you do currently.
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