PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO SIGN THIS PETITION!!!

[Beenleigh]

You may have heard the story of Fran Lyon. If not, then this is a simplified version.

Fran is currently 31 weeks pregnant with her first baby
When Fran was sixteen years old, 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 ball had started rolling out of control, and a paediatrician, who has never actually met or spoken to Fran, has inexplicably suggested that she may in due course suffer from Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. This has resulted in social services deciding that upon her birth, Fran?s baby daughter, Molly, will be taken away from her.

It is abundantly clear that Fran Lyon will be absolutely no danger to her baby, but we suggest that at the very least, Fran should at be allowed to stay in an assessment unit with her baby, Molly, pending an inevitable decision that she is capable of caring for her daughter independently.

Please take a few minutes to watch this clip of Fran being interviewed on This Morning: uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2qHcH_Eaocg

Please please sign the petition here: www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/539543596

Also, please could you copy and paste this post and send it as an email to as many people as possible, obviously feeling free to correct my crappy spelling and grammar!

Many Thanks

I used the word diagnosed wrongly, I knew he hadn;t met you, so of course there can be no diagnosis. It's so crappy, if you were living somewhere far away from any Munchhausen's 'specialists' then it would never have arisen. Such a pity that you live near where this guy works.

LittleBella, you sound like you've a better knowledge than me, I am in horrified pro-active mode atm; I am just so shocked and horrified that this is happening.

Well let's all think positive & hope that they'll see sense by the 13th.

bumpy bump

Bedtime Bump for Bossy !!

night Beeny!

me too, night bossy

Breakfast bump!

come on people nearly at 300 votes

bump..have signed it

Message withdrawn

Message withdrawn

Fran, my heart is breaking for you. Pregnancy itself can be very emotional, quite scary and generally a hormone fuelled pendulum of emotions. To think that you are having to deal with the threat of not going home with your baby is truly truly awful.

I admire how calm you managed to stay during your interview on This Morning, you are obviously a very strong, intelligent and informed young woman. By your own admittance you have had your problems and accept you may need some support, that should be sufficient.

Please, let me know if there is anything I can do to help your case.

Much love and compassion, kb

Following a post by Katiebird, here are a load of other things we can do if anyone fancies it:

1. Write to Fran's MP Peter Atkinson to urge him to take up her case and represent her. His input would make the world of difference because he definitely holds sway with Social Services. He can be emailed here:

www.peteratkinson.com/record.jsp?type=requiredPage&ID=23&contact=contact

2. Email the following newsdesks/journalists and ask them to take up Fran's story:
   The Independent: independent.co.uk
   Observer: [email protected]
   Guardian: [email protected]
   John Sweeney: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/4770498.stm

3. Email This Morning saying that following their excellent initial interview, the case needs more publicity, and would they be prepared to help, and would they be prepared to have the footage of Fran's interview featured as one of their top videos on their web site: [email protected]
   Also email Denise Robertson who was very supportive during th This Morning interview requesting that she jojns the campaign: [email protected]

4. Join this facebook group and ask everyone you know to join too, they send out things to do etc:

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4696703334

5. Post this on any other talk/message boards you are on:

You may be aware of the story of Fran Lyon, but if not, here is a simplified version:
Fran is pregnant with her first baby. The baby is due on the 3rd January 2008.

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.

It is very clear that Fran Lyon will be absolutely no danger to her baby, but we propose that 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.

Fran's website is here: franlyon.righttoreply.info/Home.html

She was recently interviewed on This Morning: www.fassit.co.uk/media/itvthismorningnov022007.wmv

A petition has been set up here. I have no idea yet exactly how to 'use' the petition, but in less than 24 hours there were over 250 'signatures' which shows the strength of public opinion about this matter. independent.co.uk0

What else can you do?

If you would like to help Fran's cause more then you could do the following: ,

Following a post by Katiebird, here are a load of other things we can do if anyone fancies it:

1. Write to Fran's MP Peter Atkinson to urge him to take up her case and represent her. His input would make the world of difference because he definitely holds sway with Social Services. He can be emailed here: independent.co.uk1

2. Email the following newsdesks/journalists and ask them to take up Fran's story:
   The Independent: independent.co.uk2
   Observer: independent.co.uk3
   Guardian: independent.co.uk4
   John Sweeney: independent.co.uk5

3. Email This Morning saying that following their excellent initial interview, the case needs more publicity, and would they be prepared to help, and would they be prepared to have the footage of Fran's interview featured as one of their top videos on their web site: independent.co.uk6
   Also email Denise Robertson who was very supportive during th This Morning interview requesting that she jojns the campaign: independent.co.uk7

4. Join this facebook group and ask everyone you know to join too, they send out things to do etc: independent.co.uk8

5. Post this on any talk/message boards you are on.

6. Please could you forward this as an email to as many people as possible.

There are mothers suspected of having Munch by proxy whose children have not been taken away by ss but remain on the at risk register monitored by multi-disiplinary teams.

Where actual harm has taken place then the child is removed but often there is no real proof no real diagnosis. Children are highlighted to the authorities by their frequent attendance to various a and e departments or gp's. Often the mother will use a number some even out of area to try and disguise the pattern, somestimes she will go as far as using false names. Quite often the reasons for attendances are suspicious of Munch by proxy. It is a nightmare for all involved to handle the cases fairly and in the childs best interest as there are many shades of grey.

These families appear on national registers that are available to medical personel so they can be tracked and monitored. If it was so easy for children to be removed then why have these children not been removed as well?

As for Beverly Allit I read the court report of her case and she was bad not mad. Her label of Much by proxy was given by the media which they have continued to latch on too. She wasn't even a qualified nurse and if her occupational health department had monitored her attendance and behaviour in the first place her personality problems would of been picked up and she would never of had the opportunity to harm the children.

Roy Meadow, the inventor of Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy, testified in Beverley Allit's case and made the diagnosis of Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy as far as I know. It came from him not the media.

This really isn't the thread to defend this shoddy diagnosis, wayneta. Perhaps you could start a new one for that.

Hav no idea what happened to all the links there, but here it is properly

Following a post by Katiebird, here are a load of other things we can do if anyone fancies it:

1. Write to Fran's MP Peter Atkinson to urge him to take up her case and represent her. His input would make the world of difference because he definitely holds sway with Social Services. He can be emailed here:

www.peteratkinson.com/record.jsp?type=requiredPage&ID=23&contact=contact

2. Email the following newsdesks/journalists and ask them to take up Fran's story:
   The Independent: independent.co.uk
   Observer: [email protected]
   Guardian: [email protected]
   John Sweeney: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/4770498.stm

3. Email This Morning saying that following their excellent initial interview, the case needs more publicity, and would they be prepared to help, and would they be prepared to have the footage of Fran's interview featured as one of their top videos on their web site: [email protected]
   Also email Denise Robertson who was very supportive during th This Morning interview requesting that she jojns the campaign: [email protected]

4. Join this facebook group and ask everyone you know to join too, they send out things to do etc:

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4696703334

5. Post this on any other talk/message boards you are on:

You may be aware of the story of Fran Lyon, but if not, here is a simplified version:
Fran is pregnant with her first baby. The baby is due on the 3rd January 2008.

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.

It is very clear that Fran Lyon will be absolutely no danger to her baby, but we propose that 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.

Fran's website is here: franlyon.righttoreply.info/Home.html

She was recently interviewed on This Morning: www.fassit.co.uk/media/itvthismorningnov022007.wmv

A petition has been set up here. I have no idea yet exactly how to 'use' the petition, but in less than 24 hours there were over 250 'signatures' which shows the strength of public opinion about this matter.
www.thepetitionsite.com/3/we-the-undersigned-completely-disagree-with-the-intention-to-take-fran-lyo ns-newborn-baby-away

What else can you do?

If you would like to help Fran's cause more then you could do the following:

1. Write to Fran's MP Peter Atkinson to urge him to take up her case and represent her. His input would make the world of difference because he definitely holds sway with Social Services. He can be emailed here:

www.peteratkinson.com/record.jsp?type=requiredPage&ID=23&contact=contact

2. Email the following newsdesks/journalists and ask them to take up Fran's story:
   The Independent: independent.co.uk
   Observer: [email protected]
   Guardian: [email protected]
   John Sweeney: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/4770498.stm

3. Email This Morning saying that following their excellent initial interview, the case needs more publicity, and would they be prepared to help, and would they be prepared to have the footage of Fran's interview featured as one of their top videos on their web site: [email protected]
   Also email Denise Robertson who was very supportive during th This Morning interview requesting that she jojns the campaign: [email protected]

4. Join this facebook group and ask everyone you know to join too, they send out things to do etc:

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4696703334

5. Post this on any other talk/message boards you are on

Sorry, bit of a mess now, this should all be OK

Following a post by Katiebird, here are a load of other things we can do if anyone fancies it:

1. Write to Fran's MP Peter Atkinson to urge him to take up her case and represent her. His input would make the world of difference because he definitely holds sway with Social Services. He can be emailed here:

www.peteratkinson.com/record.jsp?type=requiredPage&ID=23&contact=contact

2. Email the following newsdesks/journalists and ask them to take up Fran's story:
   The Independent: independent.co.uk
   Observer: [email protected]
   Guardian: [email protected]
   John Sweeney: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/4770498.stm

3. Email This Morning saying that following their excellent initial interview, the case needs more publicity, and would they be prepared to help, and would they be prepared to have the footage of Fran's interview featured as one of their top videos on their web site: [email protected]
   Also email Denise Robertson who was very supportive during th This Morning interview requesting that she jojns the campaign: [email protected]

4. Join this facebook group and ask everyone you know to join too, they send out things to do etc:

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4696703334

5. Post this on any other talk/message boards you are on:

You may be aware of the story of Fran Lyon, but if not, here is a simplified version:
Fran is pregnant with her first baby. The baby is due on the 3rd January 2008.

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.

It is very clear that Fran Lyon will be absolutely no danger to her baby, but we propose that 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.

Fran's website is here: franlyon.righttoreply.info/Home.html

She was recently interviewed on This Morning: www.fassit.co.uk/media/itvthismorningnov022007.wmv

A petition has been set up here. I have no idea yet exactly how to 'use' the petition, but in less than 24 hours there were over 250 'signatures' which shows the strength of public opinion about this matter.
independent.co.uk0

What else can you do?

If you would like to help Fran's cause more then you could do the following:

1. Write to Fran's MP Peter Atkinson to urge him to take up her case and represent her. His input would make the world of difference because he definitely holds sway with Social Services. He can be emailed here:

independent.co.uk1

2. Email the following newsdesks/journalists and ask them to take up Fran's story:
   The Independent: independent.co.uk2
   Observer: independent.co.uk3
   Guardian: independent.co.uk4
   John Sweeney: independent.co.uk5

3. Email This Morning saying that following their excellent initial interview, the case needs more publicity, and would they be prepared to help, and would they be prepared to have the footage of Fran's interview featured as one of their top videos on their web site: independent.co.uk6
   Also email Denise Robertson who was very supportive during th This Morning interview requesting that she jojns the campaign: independent.co.uk7

4. Join this facebook group and ask everyone you know to join too, they send out things to do etc:

independent.co.uk8

5. Post this on any other talk/message boards you are on

Beenleigh all the work you've done on this has been fantastic. Thank you.

Sorry, please check the links if you use the email, there seems to be an upper limit of links the system allows.

Well done beeny, loads of good ideas there. I have emailed all the contacts I have in the media (not that I have that many, I mainly do book stuff) and haven't had anything back from anyone. Which is a bit strange.

signed

bump

Message withdrawn

Brilliant!! Less than 24 hrs & already over a third of the target!

Well done Beeny & Mumsnet!

signed and forwarded x

Hello everyone,

Thank you so very, very much. I really am touched. Your efforts are phenomenal, and your support means the world.

Fran & Molly

-

Hello Wayneta,

I have volunteered to be supervised constantly in a Mother and Baby Unit. I would agree to any form of monitoring, therapy or supervision - at home or elsewhere, court ordered or otherwise, if it meant Molly and I could be kept together.

The behaviours you describe in your post obviously only apply to people who have actually had their children. Molly is my first and so those things cannot have happened.

I cannot explain why Northumberland have taken such an extraordinarily extreme position - I wish I could, this would all be a lot easier to deal with if I understood.

Please understand that I am not attacking social workers, or child protection. I simply believe that in this case things have spiraled out of control very quickly. I don't believe anyone involved in this case is out to deliberately cause pain or harm. I still genuinely believe that everyone involved has Molly's best interests at heart. However, there is no evidence that I am a risk and plenty that I am not. As her mother my first duty is to love and protect Molly - I wouldn't be doing my job as her Mum if I didn't fight with everything I've got in order to give her the very best I possibly can.

Thanks,

Fran

applause for Fran