Annette Brooke MP Takes Concerns over Children with M.E. to Minister

LDDA - The Liberal Democrat Disability Association <info@disabilitylibdems.org.uk>

Annette Brooke MP Takes Concerns over Children with M.E. to Minister

November 7, 2011 4:49 PM
Originally published by Annette Brooke MP and Mid Dorset & North Poole Lib Dems

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Myalgic Encephalopathy met with Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Young Families in the Department for Education and other members of the APPG to discuss the issues surrounding children with M.E.

The group raised the problems surrounding the misunderstanding of the condition. They recognised that teachers are under pressure to minimise truancy levels, but that they need a better understanding of M.E. so that children are not labelled as "school refusers" as is often the case currently. They highlighted how many children with M.E. struggle to get recognition of their condition, sometimes leading to changing schools or leaving state education. In some cases, parents have been falsely accused of Munchausen's Syndrome by proxy, leading to the children being taken into care.

Annette and the APPG members highlighted the damage that misunderstanding by social services and those in the education service can cause.

Mr Loughton asked for more information and statistics to inform his work, and agreed to take the issues away and discuss them with colleagues. He advised the group that he would write to Annette to follow up on the outcome of the meeting.

Annette said: "I was pleased to meet with the Minister to brief him on such an important issue. The misunderstanding of M.E. by professionals in education and social services creates real problems for children who suffer with the condition. The Minister agreed to look in to the issue with colleagues, and asked for more information to inform his work."