POLITICAL PARTNERS
In the coming months VARDA officers will be meeting with John Smith MP and David Kidney MP at Westminster to discuss and plan for future partnership in our joint public and political awareness-raising programme. The Civil Aviation Bill currently going through Parliament offers further advances to our cause and its progress will be monitored with interest.

VARDA AT WESTMINSTER
A VARDA General Meeting is being planned at Westminster hopefully in the Autumn, when, in addition to our normal business we will be able to listen to a presentation by Dr Annette Ruge, the Head of the Government funded Aviation Health Unit that comes under the Civil Aviation Authority. Dr Ruge is uniquely qualified to hold this position being a former flight attendant before qualifying as a doctor to work in an intensive care unit and holding a PhD based upon DVT research. This will be an event not to be missed!

HOUSE OF LORDS APPEAL
Many members were upset by the 2002 and 2003 court rulings that DVT victims would not be able to claim for compensation against the airlines, a decision hinging upon the interpretation of the word “accident” in the 1929 Warsaw Convention. Sometime later this year the result of the House of Lords Appeal will be known. VARDA hopes that this time the legal go-ahead for the would-be claimants will be given or will the judgements of the Royal Courts of Justice and the Court of Appeal be upheld?  Whatever the outcome VARDA needs to be in a position to respond.

• Air Travel and Health House of Lords Select Committee Report (2000)

• Public Enquiry Into Air Related Deep Vein Thrombosis Early Day Motion (2001) Over 100 MPs support

• Health (Air Travellers) Bill (2001) 10 Minute Rule Bill – David Kidney MP

•  Aviation Health Bill (2003)10 Minute Rule Bill - John Smith MP

• ALL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP ON DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS AWARENESS Chair: John Smith MP  Sec: David Kidney MP 

• AVIATION HEALTH UNIT Established 2003 at the Civil Aviation Authority, Gatwick, with initial funding from Department of Transport. Dr. Annette Ruge appointed Head of Unit.

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