aCTUALLY, JUST THOUGHT why don't we try to email as many places as possible, and the first person to email a new place could post a link on here as well as what they've written to make it really easy for the rest of us to do the same. i don't mean that we should all write the same, but lets face it, the emails are essentially going to mean the same, so it doesn;t really matter, basically, the more the better.
Here's mine:
Today programme: www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/contact/
I wrote the following:
Social services have decided to take Fran Lyons baby away as soon as she is born.
When Fran was sixteen years old, (she is now 22) she was the victim of a serious sexual assault, and as a result, she suffered from mental health issues. She received therapy for two years, one year as an inpatient, and less than one following her discharge. She has not received or needed any mental health therapy since that time, and the psychiatrist that treated her has explicitly stated that she has no concerns whatsoever for Fran's mental health.
Unfortunately, early on in Fran?s pregnancy, there was a difficult situation with her (then) partner, and Fran called the police. Due to the nature of the problem and combined with the fact that Fran was pregnant, the police referred the case to social services. Fran was completely honest and open about her past mental health issues, and clear that she no longer suffered from any such problems. However, a paediatrician, from the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, who has never actually met or spoken to Fran, has inexplicably suggested that she may in due course suffer from Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy. This has resulted in Hexham Children's services deciding that upon her birth, Fran?s baby daughter, Molly, will be taken away from her. The final decision is technically made by the Child Protection Conference, based on recommendations from the Social services, and the 'independent chair'.
It is abundantly clear that Fran Lyon will be absolutely no danger to her baby, but at the very least, Fran should be allowed to stay in an assessment unit with her baby, Molly, pending the (inevitable) decision that she is more than capable of caring for her daughter independently.
She was recently interviewed on This Morning: uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2qHcH_Eaocg and there has been some coverage in the press too.
A petition has been set up here. www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/539543596
It would be fantastic if the Today programme could cover this story, and hopefully get some feedback from the responsible social services department.