Chesham and Amersham MP, Sarah Green, has urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to fund research into the impact of Climate Change on epilepsy.
In Parliament last Friday, Ms. Green referred to recent research showing that in hot weather, 62% of those whose seizures were uncontrolled experienced an increase in seizure frequency or severity.
The Liberal Democrat law-maker called on the Prime Minister to “endorse the Epilepsy Climate Change Initiative and commit more funding to research the impact of Climate Change on human health."
Responding, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "We're funding epilepsy research with another £54 million over the last few years and this issue that she raises of any particular link between hot weather or climate change and epilepsy is certainly one that we will be going into."
Speaking just a couple of days before the start of the 26th Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, where world leaders are meeting to discuss climate change, Ms Green said she was pleased the PM had agreed to act, adding: "This illustrates the immediate effect the climate crisis is having on the everyday lives of people not just locally but around the world.”
Clare Pelham, CEO of the Epilepsy Society, based in Chalfont St. Peter, commented: "We are very grateful to our constituency MP for raising the case for more funds into research which will translate into better lives for the 600,000 people in the UK with epilepsy."
The Epilepsy Society has launched the Epilepsy Climate Change (EpiCC) initiative. The global initiative seeks to reduce contributions to climate change and support research into its impact on people with epilepsy.
Police officer acquitted of rape in Buckinghamshire
Council partners with local wildlife charities and farmer to establish local Habitat Bank
Firefighters tackle bin lorry fire
Bucks residents go to the polls
New Aldi plan in Amersham deferred
Family issue tributes to Karl Stanislaus
Lidl wants to open more stores in Bucks
Man jailed for life for murder and GBH with intent
