Writing to your MP

Your MP represents your local area and is responsible for making sure it's a great place to live with services that meet the community's needs. If you're unsure who your MP is, you can find out on the TheyWorkForYou website.

Once you know who your MP is, you can write to them or drop into their constituency surgery to speak to them about local issues. Read our tips to help you prepare to meet your MP.

How to write to your MP

You don’t have to write to your MP to complain, especially if you’ve received a positive response from your integrated care board (ICB). We’d love to shine a light on ICBs who are doing good work by asking MPs to highlight this in parliament. Sharing these positive stories will encourage ICBs to follow their lead. 

Tips for writing your letter

You can use our templates below, but if you want to write your own letter, here are some general guidelines:

• Introduce yourself but be formal. This is an email or letter to someone who is an elected official, they have a job to do and should be addressed respectfully.
• State clearly at the top of your letter why you’re writing to them and what you would like them to do. This will help the member of staff in their office, who reads this letter first, decide what action to take. 
• Stick to the topic at hand. You might not agree politically with your MP, but you need to convince them it is a local problem and something they should take action on. It’s important to talk about what the problem is, provide some evidence, and be clear about what you want. Be clear, succinct and persuasive.
• Share something personal to you and the area. Talk about an experience that brought you to the campaign.
• Sum up what you need from them again. Are you asking them to chase up the ICB regarding your letter, to raise this matter in parliament, or to meet you about this matter?

If you do hear back from your ICB and it's positive

Dear [your MP's name],

I recently wrote to our new integrated care board (ICB) in [your local area]. They received my letter and positively responded to my concerns. I understand that this isn’t the case across the country. I thought that you would like to know about this good example of health service planning. I would be grateful if you could raise this in parliament, as I know that this good practice does not exist all across the country. 

I asked them about the healthcare workforce in [your local area]. In particular, I wanted to know how they will plan for Parkinson’s care to make sure that access to a consultant, a Parkinson’s nurse and other healthcare professionals are available when people need them.

I also asked how they’ll make sure that healthcare professionals across [your local area] understand Parkinson's. There are over 40 symptoms of the condition, including movement difficulties, stiffness, tremors and freezing. People with Parkinson’s can also be prone to depression, anxiety and in some cases dementia. It’s crucial that all healthcare professionals recognise this when they meet a person with Parkinson’s.

They said their plans are [list the actions outlined in the ICB's reply to you].

Parkinson's is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world and it's crucial that other ICBs work to address the concerns of people with Parkinson's and their families, friends and carers. I want to make sure that access to care is not dependent on where you live.

Yours sincerely,

[name]

If your ICB doesn't respond

Dear [your MP's name],

I'm one of your constituents and I recently wrote to our local integrated care board (ICB) [name of your local board] about the needs of people with Parkinson's in our local community. I have followed up but heard nothing back from them. Please could you contact them and ask about my concerns?

I asked them about the healthcare workforce in [your local area]. In particular, I wanted to know how they will plan for Parkinson’s care to make sure that access to a consultant, a Parkinson’s nurse and other healthcare professionals are available when people need them. 

I also asked how they’ll make sure that healthcare professionals across [your local area] understand Parkinson's. There are over 40 symptoms of the condition, including movement difficulties, stiffness, tremors and freezing. People with Parkinson’s can also be prone to depression, anxiety and in some cases dementia. It’s crucial that all healthcare professionals recognise this when they meet a person with Parkinson’s.

Parkinson's is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world and it still has no cure. The people in our community need to know how our new ICB will make sure that people with Parkinson's get the care they/we need.

We/they can't wait any longer.

I would be grateful if you would follow up with the ICB and find out if they are looking at workforce planning and training for Parkinson’s. As a new way of organising joined-up care, I hope they will do their best to plan services for us, and I hope you agree they should be accountable and responsive to our local community.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,
[name]

If you get a negative response, such as, they aren't going to look at this, or they don't have the budget at the moment

Dear [your MP’s name], 

I’m one of your constituents and I recently wrote to our local integrated care board [name of your local board] about the needs of people with Parkinson’s in our local community. I was disappointed by their response. They told me that [detail their response here].

I don’t think this is good enough for people with Parkinson’s in my local area. Integrated care boards were established to be accountable to their local area and this makes me feel like our voices aren’t being heard. Will you help?

I asked the board about the healthcare workforce in [your local area]. In particular, I wanted to know how they will plan for Parkinson’s care to make sure that access to a consultant, a Parkinson’s nurse and other healthcare professionals is available when people need it. 

I also asked how they’ll make sure that healthcare professionals across [your local area] understand Parkinson’s. There are over 40 symptoms of the condition, including movement difficulties, stiffness, tremors and freezing. People with Parkinson’s can also be prone to depression, anxiety and in some cases dementia. It’s crucial that all healthcare professionals recognise this when they meet a patient with Parkinson’s.

I don’t think this is too much to ask. I would be grateful if you would write to the board and ask why they are unable to help people with Parkinson’s. Or if you would raise why ICBs are not responding to their local communities with the secretary of state for health and social care in parliament.

As the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, Parkinson's still has no cure. The people in our community need to know how our new ICB will make sure that people with Parkinson’s are getting the care they/we need. 

We/They can’t wait any longer. 

[Share a personal story here, if you feel comfortable]

As a new way of organising joined up care, I hope ICBs will do their best to plan services for us, and I hope you agree they should be accountable and responsive to our local community. I would be grateful if you would support people with Parkinson’s by raising this with the ICB yourself, or with the government. 

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,
[name]