Parliamentary Campaigning

Meaningful change requires more than raising awareness. It requires political engagement, regulatory scrutiny and sustained pressure for reform. Since establishing DAAG, we have worked to ensure that the experiences of patients and families affected by dopamine agonists are heard at the highest levels of government.

Our parliamentary campaign began when David Williams took the story of his late father to his constituency MP, Lee Pitcher. Since then, Lee has become a strong advocate for the campaign, helping to raise awareness of the issue in Westminster and pressing for greater scrutiny of current prescribing practices.

A key part of our work has been gathering evidence through Parliament's formal mechanisms. Written Parliamentary Questions have been submitted to establish what data is held by Government and NHS bodies regarding the prescribing of dopamine agonists, adverse effects, patient outcomes and regulatory oversight. These questions are helping to build a clearer evidence base and identify gaps in the information currently available.

Alongside this, Lee Pitcher has written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care requesting a meeting to discuss the issue directly. He has also repeatedly entered the ballot for Health and Social Care Questions in the House of Commons, seeking every opportunity to raise the issue publicly and secure ministerial accountability.

We have also been working closely with Layla Moran MP, Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee. We have sought her support in ensuring that the voices of patients and families are heard as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) conducts its review of dopamine agonists and their associated harms. We have written to the MHRA to request a meeting as part of their review and are awaiting their response.

Our parliamentary work is still at an early stage, but it forms an important part of a wider campaign for change. Our immediate priority is to ensure that dopamine agonists are prescribed with far greater safeguards, transparency and informed consent, reducing the risk of further preventable harm.

As awareness of the campaign grows, we are hearing from increasing numbers of individuals and families whose lives have been profoundly affected—physically, psychologically and financially. Our long-term ambition is to secure recognition and support for everyone impacted, while driving the systemic changes needed to prevent others experiencing the same devastating consequences.