Join people with Down’s syndrome, their families and the wider community on Tuesday evening for an important event in Parliament.
We’ll be delivering our letter, signed by over 650 people with Down’s syndrome, and their families, to Jeremy Hunt at the Department of Health. We hope to gain significant media traction from this, so please make sure you are there to help us make a real impact.
We will then be moving to our main event in Portcullis House where we will hear speeches and a panel discussion, with an opportunity for questions from the floor. The evening will end with a mix and mingle session, where you will be able to raise your concerns with MPs.
People with Down’s syndrome and their families have been excluded from the debate about prenatal screening. Whilst the Government have not yet rolled out cfDNA/ NIPT screening on the NHS, their decision may be imminent, but those whose lives will be most affected are yet to be included in the discussion.
Sally Phillips has put the issue of screening and unbalanced information being provided to parents with a diagnosis of Down’s syndrome on the national agenda – it’s time for action that puts this firmly on the political agenda. We have one last chance to make a difference before it is too late.
If you are planning on attending, please email your MP, informing them about the event on Tuesday and letting them know that you would sincerely appreciate their attendance on the night as you wish to raise your concerns with them directly.
For details on how to go about contacting your MP, see here:http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-your-mp/.
Make sure to go in prepared with some key points (check out our campaign briefing here: https://dontscreenusout.org/campaign-briefing/).
The schedule for the event is as follows:
17:30 – Delivery of letter from parents and people with Down’s syndrome to Jeremy Hunt at the Department of Health.
17:45 – Walk to Portcullis House
18:00 – Meeting in Parliament begins (Grimmond Room, Portcullis House).
18:10 – Speeches and panel discussion.
18:40 – Questions.
19:00 – Mix and mingle with MPs.
We look forward to seeing you all there!
