25/06/2026
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐.
Today is an important day. We are aware that some of you may be worried that the extreme heat could affect numbers of MPs sitting in the Chamber. Even if there is low attendance, this backbench debate really matters.
Here is why:
Backbench debates are a crucial part of how awareness is built in Parliament. What matters most is that the issue is formally on the record. This ensures that PANS and PANDAS are spoken about in Hansard (the official parliamentary record), which Government departments, clinicians and policymakers refer back to.
Even if the extreme weather results in low attendance from MPs:
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ๐ป๐๐น๐, making it harder for the issue to be ignored
๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐บ๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ putting the Governmentโs position on record
๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐, often leading to follow-up meetings, questions and future action.
Many MPs follow debates remotely, attend briefly, or have overlapping commitmentsโso physical numbers donโt always reflect engagement or impact.
Progress in Parliament doesnโt always look dramaticโbut it does build, piece by piece.
For our community, this debate represents years of advocacy. Itโs another step towards improving care for people with PANS and PANDAS in the UK and we look forward to building on the outcomes of this important parliamentary event.
Learn more: https://panspandasuk.org/post/turning-up-the-volume-in-parliament/
