Introduction to The All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin (APPGS) was established in 1994, the culmination of a Skin Care Campaign (SCC) campaign to raise awareness of skin disease in Parliament. Around 400 All Party Parliamentary Groups exist, representing a variety of public policy issues.

The APPGS has a large and active membership that includes MPs from all political parties, members of the House of Lords, health professionals, patient groups and commercial interests.

The Group’s day-to-day activities are determined by its Steering Group, which is composed of non-parliamentary members and is representative of the associate membership. All activities are subject to the approval of the Group’s parliamentary officers led by the Chairman, the Rt Hon Bruce George MP.

The APPGS has the following broad objectives:

• To raise awareness of skin issues in Parliament
  

• To achieve improvements in the treatment and management of patients with skin disease
  

• To provide an unbiased means of responding to threats to dermatology

• To provide a forum for partners in skin care – patients, clinicians, managers, industry and other skin interested organisations

• To make recommendations to Government for improvements to dermatology services and patient management

The APPGS holds around five meetings a year in the House of Commons to inform parliamentarians about relevant dermatology issues. A variety of speakers address the Group including representatives from health professional organisations, patient groups, political parties and charities. Meetings are open to all members and provide an opportunity to share information and experiences.

The APPGS also produces written reports, to which all members have the opportunity to contribute. Nine reports have been published to date, addressing a variety of dermatology issues including the adequacy of service provision, two on dermatology training for health professionals, fraudulent practice, primary care, skin cancer, the elderly, and the impact of skin disease on people’s lives. The Group’s reports have been widely supported by dermatology stakeholders and have proved useful tools for presenting evidence to policy makers.The APPGS also undertakes ad hoc briefing activity to highlight new and emerging issues with its parliamentary members. This includes liaising with MPs and Peers on parliamentary questions, early day motions and short debates. The Group will also raise issues with officials in Whitehall as and when appropriate.

The APPGS’s work programme is intended to reflect key issues in dermatology services and emerges from consultation with key dermatology stakeholders. The Group’s priorities have included securing a dermatology policy lead in the Department of Health, work to implement the training report, as well as having dermatology included in the GP Contract.

The first part of 2005 saw the APPGS starting work on its tenth report, to be published towards the end of year. The report will address the adequacy and equity of dermatology service provision, highlighting new developments in primary care dermatology services and updating the 1997 report.

Membership of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin is open to any organisation or individual with an interest in Skin Disease. If you would like to become an associate member of the Group please contact the Secretariat.

All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin

St James House, 13 Kensington Square, London, W8 5HD

Tel: 020 7368 3100 Fax: 020 7368 3101 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it