Sample Letters

It is really better if you compose your own letter and only have a very quick glance at these sample letters. These letters are not intended to be copied. Please adapt them to your own story.

However, we are asking you to make sure you include the last two sentences of these sample letters in your letters.

Your own postal address, the date.

Dear (MP)

In (the year ___), I/my partner/sister/brother became very unwell with many strange symptoms. After all the standard tests my doctor did not know what was wrong.

Now I am sure I have/Now I have been diagnosed with Lyme disease or something closely allied to Lyme disease and I regret that so much time has passed. I have had inadequate/no treatment. Every week that goes by has a further bad effect. (Fill in your own case history, if you have had a key symptom like rash or facial palsy*, mention it, tell your own story).

I find it hard to believe the NHS cannot help me but there does not seem to be anything provided for someone like me.

This is what this illness has done to my life/my partner’s life/my sister’s life/my brother’s life. Even to have my/their situation properly recognised and treated would be a start, but there is no realisation that I am/they are extremely ill and need help against an infection. This awful situation needs to change and I support the changes suggested in Lyme Disease Action’s ‘Ten Steps’ leaflet which I have printed out from their website and enclose. Please help me get the NHS recognition and treatment that I need.

Please could you write to write to the Secretary of State for Health to find out for me what is being done to address patient’s concerns about diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.
On behalf of all Lyme disease sufferers may I request that you sign EDM 958

Thank you.

(Your Signature)

(Please print your name also)
(about 220 words)

Or

Your postal address, the date.

Dear (MP)

After an extended period of ill health during which time I received very little help from the NHS, I came across information about Lyme disease and the symptoms described were very like my own case. It’s known to be a disease that is hard to diagnose. I have since seen a doctor who specialises in this disease and I have been diagnosed as having this illness after all. The result of all this is that I have been taking treatment for Lyme disease and my health has improved markedly/my health has taken a turn for the better/I have recovered. Or if you were confused by getting a Herxheimer at first, explain that too. (Expand, give details, time scale).

I find it hard to believe that the NHS could not recognise what was wrong with me and yet I could have been treated for a simple infection all along. Whilst I am much better now, I still need your help, not only for myself, but also for others like me. For my own case, I do need the NHS to recognise and enter this episode of ill health properly in my notes, such that, if unluckily it should recur, I could be properly recognised and treated promptly.

Please could you write to the Secretary of State for Health and find out for me what is being done to address patient’s concerns about diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. To help us highlight our plight, I would also like to request that you sign EDM 958. Thank you.

(Your signature)

(Please print your name also)
(About 245 words)

Or

Your own postal address, the date.

Dear (MP)

Last year I developed an illness after being bitten by a tick. I had an expanding red rash on my skin and my doctor saw this. He/she diagnosed that I had Lyme disease and this was confirmed by a blood test which was positive. I was given some treatment and told to take all of it, which I did. (Fill in your own symptoms, tell your own story).

At first I felt better, but after a few months the same symptoms returned. I have been told I cannot have the illness any more. But I still have the symptoms I had last year. I have read that some doctors advocate long-term treatment. However, my doctor will no longer consider Lyme disease. I find it hard to believe the NHS cannot help me when I need treatment against an infection. This is an awful situation to find myself in. I enclose a leaflet(s) from Lyme Disease Action called ‘Ten Steps to better control of Lyme disease’ which refers to the changes I believe are needed.

Please help me get the NHS recognition and treatment I need. Please could you write to the Secretary of State for Health and find out for me what is being done to address patient’s concerns about diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. To help Lyme patients highlight this issue, I would also like to request that you sign EDM 958. Thank you.

(Your signature)

(Please print your name also)
(around 220 words)

Or

Your own postal address in Scotland, the date.

Dear (Westminster MP)

In (the year ___), I became very unwell with many strange symptoms. After all the standard tests my doctor did not know what was wrong with me. (Fill in your own story).

Now I feel/Now I am sure I have Lyme disease or something closely allied to Lyme disease but my case has not been reported OR Now I have been diagnosed with Lyme disease and although I think my case has been notified to the appropriate authorities, this has not in fact made much difference to my clinical condition or my prospects for full treatment or recovery. I cannot believe my doctor cannot help me. (Fill in your own symptoms, tell your own story).

I find there is little realisation that I am very sick and need help against an infection. This situation needs to change not only for myself but for everyone who gets this awful illness.

Even to have my own situation properly recognised and treated would be a start. Please could you write to the Secretary of State for Health and find out for me what is being done to address patient’s concerns about diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. To help Lyme patients highlight this issue, I would also like to request that you sign EDM 958. Thank you.

(Your signature)

(Please print your name also)
(around 185 words)

(*See Lyme Disease Action information leaflets ‘What is Lyme Disease?’ and ‘Lyme borreliosis in Neurology and Psychiatry’ for key symptoms. For a summary of the changes we would like to see, please see the leaflet ‘Ten steps to better control of Lyme disease'.

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