The Cross-Party Group for Neurosciences brings together AMs from all parties, professionals and the Executive Committee of the Wales Neurological Alliance (http://www.assemblywales.org/memhome/mem-register-cross-party/cpgneurosciences.
htm). The group meets 4 times a year and in addition to long standing issues such as the Neurosciences Review, it has discussed the problems with access to specialist wheelchairs, palliative care and neurological conditions, and the restructuring of specialist services following the abolition of Health Commission Wales.
The inaugural meeting of the Cross Party Group of Neurosciences was held in April 2009 where the para-archer champion Pippa Britton was the guest speaker. Follow up meetings were held in October and November and dates set for 4 meetings in 2010. Chaired by Mark Isherwood, AM for North Wales, the Group has already proved valuable in helping the Alliance develop stronger links with the Assembly. Not surprisingly a key focus in 2009 was the Wales Neuroscience Review with the November meeting receiving an update on recent developments and a very informative and engaging presentation from Emma Saysell, Chair of Independent Hospices Cymru on ‘Palliative and Hospice Care for Neurological Conditions’. The June 2010 meeting re elected Mark Isherwood as Chair and confirmed the WNA as Secretariat. It heard that the Steers Neuro Sciences Review implementation arrangements were happening at a slower pace in Mid & South Wales than in the North. This was causing some concern with the WNA as the key third sector stakeholders in the process. The meeting agreed that a joint letter seeking an update would issue from the Cross Party Group and the WNA to the joint Chairs of the Mid & South Wales project group. In contrast a North Wales Neuroscience Partnership Group has been established and has formed 4 Project Teams to develop a 5 year action plan which will be considered in due course by the Board of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The September Cross Party Group meeting was held in North Wales (Wrexham) for the first time. It attracted a large audience of over 100, mostly service users from prominent Alliance member organisations. Sadly this great turnout was not mirrored by the number of AM’s in attendance. Partly due to diary clashes and holiday or constituency business commitments the low numbers of AMs present fortunately did not detract from the day which gave the audience an unrivalled opportunity to pose questions to the panel which included Cross Party Group Chair Mark Isherwood AM, Dr Peter Enevoldson and Dr Paul Birch. The final Cross Party Group meeting of 2010 was held on 16th November returning to Cardiff and a more familiar business agenda. Chaired as usual by Mark Isherwood, members present received a debrief on the September meeting in North Wales; an insight into the impact on neurosciences of the work of the Welsh Health Specialist Services Committee (WHSSC) from Dr Cerilan Rogers and updates on North Wales and Mid/South Wales Neurological Reviews from our own Kevin Thomas and Buddug Williams.
