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General Election 2024: Make Your Voice Heard for Better IBD Care
As Ireland prepares for the upcoming general election happening November 29th, it’s vital that the concerns of those living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are brought to the attention of policymakers. You deserve better care, to be listened to, and to have your needs prioritised in healthcare discussions. Now is the time to get involved and ensure that our voices are heard.
How You Can Get Involved
1. Ensure You’re Registered to Vote
Every vote counts! Make sure your voice is part of the conversation by confirming your voter registration status at Check the Register. If you need to update your details or register, do it today to be election-ready.
2. Speak Up About the Issues
The election is your opportunity to highlight the challenges faced by the IBD community, from access to mental health support to reducing waiting times and expanding treatment options. You can make sure candidates in your area understand what matters most to you.
3. Use Our Resources to Take Action
To help you engage with candidates and advocate for better IBD care, we’ve put together some helpful tools:
- Template Letter: A ready-to-use letter you can send to candidates, explaining the key issues facing people with Crohn’s and colitis.
- Sample Doorstep Questions: Use these questions when candidates visit your home, to ask about their plans for improving healthcare for those with IBD.
- Feedback Form: Let us know what candidates are saying! Share their responses with us so CCI can follow up and hold them accountable.
- CCI Lobby Document: This outlines our key priorities for the election:
- Improvement to diagnosis and information provision
- Access to full multidisciplinary team
- Recognition as a Disability in Ireland
- IBD Fact Sheet: This fact sheet provides an overview of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the challenges patients face, and why change is urgently needed.
Access Election ToolKit
CCI’s Work with Politicians
CCI has already engaged with a number of politicians across the political spectrum to raise awareness of the needs of the IBD community. We’ll continue to meet with candidates and parties in the lead-up to the election, and your involvement will help amplify our message.
Make This Election Count
Together, we can make sure that the voices of people living with IBD are heard loud and clear. Get involved, vote, and let’s work together to ensure that healthcare in Ireland meets the needs of our community.