Epilepsy Society is hosting events at this year’s Labour and Liberal Democrat party conferences to push epilepsy up the political agenda. We need your help to spread the word. Please let your MP know we are going to be at the party conferences and ask them to attend our meetings or if they are going to be at the Labour Party Conference, come and see us at Stand B7.
We are hosting panel discussions at two venues exploring how charities can work with the NHS, relaunching our #Fixit For Free dental campaign and will be attending the Conservative Party Conference to meet with MPs, advisors, councillors and party members to raise awareness of epilepsy.
What really helps draw MPs attention is if their constituents contact them. Please email, write or message your member of parliament on social media to ask them to either come along and meet with us, attend an event or ask for more information about how they can better support people with epilepsy. If you can include information about your own experience of living with epilepsy and the challenges you have faced from broken teeth as a result of a seizure, struggling to access a neurologist, medication shortages or concerns about employment and benefits, the more we can make MPs aware of the complexities of the condition the more of a difference we can make.
You can find your local Member of Parliament and their contact information here: members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
Do let us know on campaigns@epilepsysociety.org.uk if you hear back from your MP, and we can provide additional support and information.
Epilepsy Society conference events
We are hosting events at two party conferences this year, details are below and we will be at Stand B7 at the Labour Party Conference. Do encourage your MP to come along.
Liberal Democrat Party Conference
22nd September, 11.30am, Highcliffe Marriot Hotel
FixIt4Free – why the NHS should provide free dental repairs for injuries caused during a seizure
Why dental repairs caused by seizures should be free on the NHS
58% of people who damage their teeth during a seizure cannot afford to get them repaired. They have to live with missing teeth. The Epilepsy Society is calling for a medical exemption for teeth damaged due to a seizure. #FixIt4Free
Labour Party Conference
29th September, 11am Leonardo Hotel
Why Angela’s houses are just the medicine for the new NHWes
The third-sector has a long standing history of supporting the vital work of the NHS, it only takes a brief glance at our Chalfont site to see how the third sector works tirelessly to support patients and the NHS.
The government’s industrial strategy is seeking to renew the UK’s leadership in life sciences, using bold innovation to drive economic growth. These are individual department goals however at Epilepsy Society, as so many third sector organisations do, we have come up with an innovative idea to merge these goals for mutual benefit. We’re asking to dig up the wealth in our land and convert it to research and better treatment options for people with Epilepsy and it could save the NHS and public sector £314 million per year.
Template Email to your Liberal Democrat MP
Dear [MP NAME],
As your constituent I wanted to ask you to attend the Epilepsy Society’s FixIt4Free – why the NHS should provide free dental repairs for injuries caused during a seizure, on 22nd September at the Liberal Democrat Conference.
I live in [INSERT ADDRESS] in your constituency and have epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a cause that is very close to my heart. I know that dental health is an issue that is a key policy for the party but I wanted to share my belief that epilepsy is the only medical diagnosis where an individual can repeatedly fall over and suffer damage to teeth as a direct result of their condition. Yet, currently in all four nations of the UK, people have to pay for restorative treatment. This can be extremely costly. While some may qualify for the NHS Low Income Scheme, four-fifths of people with epilepsy do not.
58 per cent of people with epilepsy who responded to a recent survey have faced dental repair costs they could not afford. And this is not a niche issue. 69 per cent of people with epilepsy have broken or chipped their teeth, while almost a third have lost a tooth. We all know that NHS dental treatment can be expensive, but for people with epilepsy there is a particularly unique problem: the need for repeated and costly treatment due to teeth damaged during a seizure.
[INSERT YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE ABOUT EPILEPSY AND DENTAL HARM HERE]
e.g. I have had epilepsy for X years and currently take X medication. Over the years I have broken teeth/chipped teeth/lost teeth/damaged my jaw (delete as appropriate). It has made me feel X. I have spent X of money on repairing my teeth/I cannot afford to fix my teeth (delete as appropriate).
There is no clear end point to this treatment. A person with epilepsy could pay thousands of pounds to repair their teeth, only to have a seizure and break their teeth again the very next day.
22nd September, 11.30am, Highcliffe Marriot Hotel
FixIt4Free – why the NHS should provide free dental repairs for injuries caused during a seizure
Why dental repairs caused by seizures should be free on the NHS
58% of people who damage their teeth during a seizure cannot afford to get them repaired. They have to live with missing teeth. The Epilepsy Society is calling for a medical exemption for teeth damaged due to a seizure. #FixIt4Free
I'm backing this campaign and ask for your support as my local MP. Please do attend the event if you are attending the conference. If you are not able to attend, you can table a Parliamentary Question or writing to the Department of Health and Social Care in support of a medical exemption from dental repairs needed due to epileptic seizures.
Please do let me know if this is of interest and the external affairs team at Epilepsy Society can provide you with further information. Do please email lara.evans@epilepsysociety.co.uk for further details.
Yours sincerely,
[NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL]
Alternatively, you can download a copy here. Remember to personalise it!
Template Email to your Labour MP
Dear [MP NAME],
As your constituent I wanted to ask you to visit the Epilepsy Society’s stand at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool from 28 September – 1 October. I would also be grateful if you could spare the time to attend their fringe event which is looking at how charities can help support the NHS and ultimately support people with epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a cause that is very close to my heart.
One in 100 people has epilepsy in the UK, that means at least 1000 of your constituents will be affected. But epilepsy also impacts parents, carers, friends, family and colleagues. Please find a few minutes to pop along to the exhibition to learn more about the charity and how they help people like [me/my partner/my relative] with epilepsy.
[I/my partner/child/ relative] live with:
[Please write a little about your experience of life with epilepsy. Whether it is problems getting an appointment with your consultant, issues with public transport, being unable to work, concerns about the proposed changes to benefits.]
Epilepsy affects 630,000 people in the UK. For one third of them, their seizures do not respond to current treatment options.
[Include how epilepsy affects you daily, the support you receive from Epilepsy Society whether that is from calling our Helpline, accessing the website and our social media or if you have been treated at Chalfont Centre]
The Epilepsy Society’s stand is at B7 in the conference centre and details of their fringe event are below.
‘Why Angela’s houses are just the medicine for the new NHWes’
29 September, 11am – 12pm
Speakers: Paul Davies MP, Rosie Wrighting MP, Miriam Levin, Demos and other speakers to be confirmed
Suite 6, Leonardo Hotel
This event will bring together third sector leaders and MPs to explore how charities, social enterprises, and voluntary organisations are helping deliver on some of the Government’s most ambitious goals such as improving health outcomes and building affordable housing.
Thank you very much for taking the time to find out more about epilepsy and how you can support the 1,000 people in your constituency with the condition.
Epilepsy Society’s own initiative will act as a case study in this discussion; a proposal to release a portion of our land to authorities to build affordable housing, with funds invested into developing and expanding our world-leading epilepsy research. This approach demonstrates how third sector assets and expertise can be leveraged to benefit both people and the public purse. In our case, potentially saving the NHS £314 million annually. We’re asking to dig up the wealth in our land to improve health outcomes across the country.
It would be great if you could attend this event and/or meet with the Epilepsy Society team. I know you'll be very busy so please do reach out to Lara our Public Affairs and Policy Manager (lara.evans@epilepsysociety.org.uk) to find out more.
Yours sincerely,
[NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL]
Alternatively, you can download a copy here. Remember to personalise it!