Policy

Working in Parliament

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Primary Headache Disorders (APPGPHD)

All-Party Parliamentary Groups are, as the name suggests, forums for parliamentarians in both Houses to get together and discuss areas and subjects irrespective of political affiliation.  The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Primary Headache Disorders is one such group.

The APPGPHD was relaunched in 2008 thanks to funding being provided by Headache UK . Headache UK is an umbrella group for migraine and headache organisations.  This funding facilitates the appointment of a part time coordinator who works on behalf of the APPGPHD, organising parliamentary briefings, liaising with politicians and helping the Group in its day to day activities.  The Migraine Trust is the largest contributor to the funding of this post.

The focus of the APPGPHD is to run briefing meetings in Parliament every few months.  These meetings are open to everyone including politicians, health professionals, employers and of course, the public.  The meetings are advertised on our website.

Subjects covered so far include:

• The economic cost of migraine and other headache disorders
• Migraine in women
• Improving management of headache in primary care
• The state of research into migraine and headache
• Migraine in children and young people
• Employment

In May 2010 the APPGPHD launched its first report entitled ‘Headache Disorders – not respected, not resourced’ which can be downloaded from here.

You can support our work in Parliament by engaging with your local member of parliament.  This could include writing to your MP to raise your concerns about the lack of migraine research and specialist health services, explaining the impact that migraine has on your life.  You can also ask your MP to support an Early Day Motion.