CITY of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy spoke of her personal experience of cerebral palsy as she chaired the first meeting of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Cerebral Palsy.

The disability is an issue that is close to the MPs heart, having cared for her daughter Maria for 27 years.

She aims to bring an insight into the care system for those with cerebral palsy through her lived experience and to be a strong voice in ensuring that cerebral palsy get the attention it deserves in British politics.

At the inaugural meeting of the APPG, Ms Kelly Foy spoke about her own experiences of cerebral palsy, before leading a discussion with a panel of speakers. The meeting was attended by a number of MPs from across the House.

She said: “I am really proud to co-chair the APPG on Cerebral Palsy and I am glad that the focus will primarily be on early years.

“As the mother of a daughter born prematurely and in difficult circumstances, I understand the worry and heartache that parents experience during the first months of their child’s life.”

The MP’s daughter was born 10 weeks premature in 1989 and needing a ventilator before she could breathe on her own.

Unfortunately, this basic piece of equipment wasn’t available at the hospital, nor was it available in any of the surrounding hospitals – a direct result, she said, of the deliberate running down of the NHS.

Eventually a ventilator was located 30 miles away and Maria was born three hours later by emergency C section. She had suffered brain damage and lived her life with severe cerebral palsy.

Mary worked with the charity, Action Cerebral Palsy, along with Conservative MP, Paul Maynard, to create the APPG this year, and will act as co-chair alongside Mr Maynard, who also spoke of his own experiences of the disability.

The APPG will seek to draw attention to cerebral palsy in Parliament. The next session will take place virtually on Wednesday December 16.

The focus will be on, early intervention and care pathways for children with cerebral palsy.

This follows on from Action Cerebral Palsy’s Identify, Intervene, Impact campaign.

Amanda Richardson, chief executive of Action Cerebral Palsy, said: “I am delighted that this new APPG on Cerebral Palsy will shine a light on the challenges faced by those families and individuals affected by cerebral palsy. It is vital that Government and Parliamentarians from across the House understands the pressing need to improve the health and educational experiences of those living with cerebral palsy from the outset, beginning with early intervention and pathways of care.”

“I’m pleased to have been able to co-chair the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cerebral Palsy. This is a fantastic opportunity not only to highlight the challenges facing people with this condition and their families, but also the opportunities open to them.

“Having cerebral palsy myself, I recognise what an important step this is and I look forward to hearing evidence and to deliver recommendations to Government on a wide range of issues.

“I know Mary Foy MP will bring her own experiences to the group and I look forward to working with her and other Parliamentary colleagues.”