Advocating for Aphasia in Parliament
Local MPs Unite to Champion Better Services for People Living with Aphasia
On Wednesday 23rd April, Aphasia Support hosted its debut event at the Houses of Parliament. Sponsored by Jade Botterill MP, the event welcomed Members of Parliament, including Ministers, in a recognised effort to advocate for the 350,000 people living with Aphasia in the UK.
If you have never heard of Aphasia, you are not alone. It is estimated that 85% of the population do not know what Aphasia is. Aphasia is a devastating hidden disability caused by damage to the brain, affecting a person’s ability to speak, read, write and communicate with the world around them. A third of people who experience a stroke will develop some form of Aphasia. The neurological condition can also be caused by a head injury, brain tumour or a form of dementia. It profoundly impacts everyday life.
During the event, Aphasia Support Trustee, Caroline Haw, offered her insight as a practicing Speech and Language Therapist: “We use language for education, employment, relationships, expressing our views - the list is endless. Language is not something we can separate from life, it’s a huge part of the way we function in society. I encourage you to think about your life. Now imagine it without the language skills you use every day. That might give you a small insight into living with Aphasia.”
[Pictured: Aphasia Support Trustee, Caroline Haw and Aphasia Support Fundraising and Communications Manager, Sophie Bryan]
Speech and language therapy is the most common, and most effective, treatment for Aphasia. However, current provision is comparable to a ‘postcode lottery’ with different regions offering varying levels of support. Sizeable waiting lists fail to meet a rapidly growing increase in demand, leaving families with nowhere to turn. Aphasia Support asked MPs to be part of a bigger solution to an enormous social challenge. The charity's Chief Executive, James Major, said: “We are deeply grateful to every MP who generously gave their time to learn about the condition and the detrimental effect of current inconsistencies in care.”
During the event, Aphasia Support unveiled its innovative Branch Network model, already proven in pilot regions including Yorkshire, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire. This initiative embeds the charity’s specialist, home-based speech and language therapy provision and support groups into local communities. The approach combines input from qualified speech and language therapists, fully trained volunteers and a community who passionately drive forward the charity’s cause.
Aphasia Support’s parliamentary event was a triumphant cross-party backing for improved speech and language therapy services. “We welcomed offers to facilitate influential introductions with an aim to integrate Aphasia Support’s charitable services into existing care pathways. We will continue to work alongside those who pledged to advocate for the Aphasia community, joining us in our efforts to champion a collaborative approach to ensuring high-quality, consistent, long-term support.”
Aphasia Support representatives included: James Major (Chief Executive Officer), Sophie Bryan (Fundraising and Communications Manager), Caroline Haw (Trustee), Peter Osborne (Trustee), Shadim Hussain MBE (Client with Aphasia), Aliyah Hussain (Carer), Peter Just (Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy).
