Join us in raising the profile of ovarian cancer by contacting your local MP asking them to help us to improve outcomes for people with ovarian cancer.  There are a number of ways in which you can help us by involving your MP. Some MPs are already active in campaigning on ovarian cancer issues from a local and national perspective, but many others are unaware of the impact of the disease on patients, families and the NHS.

We are calling for a focus on:

• Ensuring high quality ovarian cancer service standards
• Ensuring access to the best treatment
• Protecting the role of clinical nurse specialists

You can help by speaking to your MP about your experience of ovarian cancer. You could:

1. Request a meeting at your local MP’s constituency surgery to speak to your MP face to face.
2. Write a letter or email to your local MP talking about your personal experience of ovarian cancer and asking them to take action to improve ovarian cancer services.
3. Invite your MP to your local meeting or event to give them the opportunity to hear from other Ovacome supporters.

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How to find and contact your local MP

If you are unsure who your MP is, you can find out by entering your postcode into this website.

All MPs can be contacted at the House of Commons, at the following address:

House of Commons

London

SW1A 0AA

The main House of Commons switchboard number is: 0207 219 3000

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What to expect when you contact your MP

Most MPs have an office in their constituency that can help with arranging a meeting or advising you when and where your MP’s ‘surgery’ will be held (usually weekly, on a Friday).

Your MP won’t expect you to know about the details of health policy issues on ovarian cancer, but will want to hear about what you have experienced and how you have been affected. They are also likely to want to know what they can do to help – this is where you can urge them to show their support by taking part in at least one of the actions below:

• Becoming a Parliamentary Friend of Ovacome and working with us to keep ovarian cancer on the agenda in Parliament
• Meeting with Ovacome in Westminster to find out what they can do to improve ovarian cancer services in their area
• Writing to local NHS commissioners to find out what they are doing to improve the experience of ovarian cancer patients in your area (we can provide the contact details)
• Asking Parliamentary Questions about ovarian cancer
• Requesting a template press release highlighting their support for Ovacome and ovarian cancer
• Using their twitter feed to raise awareness of ovarian cancer – tweeting about meeting you and about what others can do
• Putting details about ovarian cancer and Ovacome on their website and/or in their constituency newsletter
• Putting the B.E.A.T. symptom awareness infographic on their website to raise awareness of the symptoms