I sent letters to Jack Straw and Nick Raynsford and have heard nothing back from them or their offices. I also emailed them but have had no response. This was over a month ago.

Here is the letter, which was similar in both cases.

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28 October 2009

Dear Nick Raynsford.
I am writing to you as a matter of urgency on behalf of myself and millions of other people like me. I suffer from Tinnitus and hearing loss which for me are as debilitation as cancer. Every day I wake up feeling suicidal having not slept after being kept awake by Tinnitus, which torments me throughout the day, all day, everyday. There is no know cure for Tinnitus and there is no treatment available. The ENT departments offer no help other than counselling and anti-depressants, which is not helpful. They say Tinnitus is not life threatening but I beg to differ. After exhausting myself trying to cope with this affliction I have at times considered ending my own life. Obviously I do not want this to happen, but I know many people that have the same thoughts regarding their Tinnitus. Just take a look at http://www.rnid.org.uk/community/forums/ and see the number of people threatening to commit suicide as a means of escaping their Tinnitus.

As a community, we need two things to happen.

One, we need a cure for Tinnitus. There just isn’t enough money going into funding research. It’s an extremely common condition and now many more people coming back form war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering having acquired Tinnitus from exposure to bomb blasts and such like.

Secondly, we need Tinnitus to be seen where applicable as a chronic debilitating condition, which is life threatening and a danger to people’s mental health.

I would like you to pass this letter on to the Ministers of health, being Gillian Merron, Andy Burnham, Mike O'Brien, Phil Hope and Ann Keen and ask them to consider drastic action to prevent more unnecessary suffering. I would also like this letter sent to Jack Straw, as I am aware that he also suffers from Tinnitus.

People with Tinnitus do not have a voice and ironically, we are suffering in silence.

I ask that you respond to this letter and pass back any response you have from the said ministers.

I appreciate your time and effort.
Yours faithfully,
Graham Vincent

ITS TYPICAL THAT YOU DONT HEAR BACK FROM THEM THEY ARE JUST NOT INTERESTED IN ANYBODY BUT THEMSELVES. I THINK THE BEST WAY TO GET THEM TO LISTEN IS TO FIND OUT IF ANY FAMOUS PEOPLE HAVE IT AND ASK THEM TO JOIN THE FIGHT . I AM CERTAIN IF THE FAMOUS PEOPLE GET INVOLVED THEN THE MEDIA WILL AND THEN THE POLITICIANS WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. AND YES I AGREE WITH YOU IT IS A DANGER TO PEOPLES LIFE AS I HAVE FELT LIKE COMMITTING HARI KARI AS ITS LIKE JAPANESE TORTURE WITH NO RESPITE.

Tiger, yes it is like Japanese torture indeed.

How can we contact celebrities? I'd do it if I knew how.

Graham

i got this of the r n i d site http://members.fortunecity.com/nrbq1/tinnitus.html (external link, opens new browser window)
surely some of these people have fan clubs maybe you could get were to send them details there

Tiger, I'll have a look around but I tried before with no luck. I just want to be able to grab these people and ask for their support but I'm not able to do that. Perhaps the demo in February might help.
Graham

Yes we definately need a public demo, not only for people who currently experience it, also to inform younsters when they go to clubs to wear ear protection. It may never happen, but perhaps 1 in every 200 will experience hearing loss and tinnitus by going to loud gigs and clubs on a regular basis.