News & Events

Adoption of a Commission Communication and a draft Council Recommendation on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias

The European Commission has adopted today the Communication from the Commission COM(2009) 380/4 to the European Parliament and the Council on a European initiative on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and a proposal for a Council Recommendation on measures to combat neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's, through joint programming of research activities.

You can find the Press Release about both initiatives under: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1171&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Further information and documents on the web site of the DG SANCO on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias under http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_information/dissemination/diseases/alzheimer_en.htm

Fair Care for Parkinson's

The Parkinson's Disease Society has launched the Fair Care for Parkinson's campaign, to make sure people affected by Parkinson's get fair access to care wherever they live in the UK.

Sue Ryder Care New Publication: Palliative Care in Neurological Disease: A Team Approach

A team of healthcare experts who work at and with Sue Ryder Care have published a book designed to increase knowledge and skills amongst care professionals. The book builds bridges between palliative and neurological end of life care and shares best practice. The book is available from Radcliffe Publishing www.radcliffe-oxford.com

Signup to Epilepsy Petition

Unless epilepsy is excluded from new legislation, thousands of people with epilepsy could have their medication switched for purely financial reasons in 2010. People with epilepsy should always be prescribed the same version of their medication unless there is a medical reasons. You can sign an electronic petition asking the Prime Minister to make epilepsy exempt from the new legislation. We need as many people as possible to sign up, to show how important this is for people with epilepsy. So please ask family, friends and colleagues to sign as well.

Able Radio Station Launched

A new radio station run by and for people with disabilities has been launched. Able Radio is unique to the UK and offers daily live programmes that address a variety of issues connected with disability. The station is designed to be ‘a celebration of life’ and will look at achievements in disability while covering important topics such as accessibility and inclusion. The station will also focus on current and upcoming campaigns. Visit www.ableradio.com for more information.

Shine on Scotland Campaign goes to Parliament

Ryan McLaughlin and his family marched to the Scottish Parliament to hand over a petition calling for vitamin D supplementation to be provided to children and pregnant women in Scotland in the fight again MS.

Over two hundred supporters of the campaign joined the march and were met by many MSPs outside Parliament. Inside the Parliament, Ryan took part in a press conference and appeared before the Public Petitions Committee.

The MSPs on the Committee were very supportive of the campaign and pledged to take the case for supplementation to the Scottish Government. It is expected that they will be able to report back on progress in the next few months and Ryan will be invited to return to Parliament.

View the campaign's presentation to the Public Petitions Committee on the Scottish Parliament's website

www.shineonscotland.org.uk

Dementia Strategy for Scotland

Scotland's first dementia strategy is on the way, stepping up the drive towards better care for people living with dementia.

The announcement comes on the day that a Mental Welfare Commission and Care Commission report provides a number of recommendations for improvement of care in care homes for people with dementia.

The Scottish Government will accept all of the recommendations which have been made in the report and will work to implement them speedily. For further details click here.