2010 February | Shine on Scotland

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Michelle Obama reveals emotion behind health project

Friday, February 26th, 2010 | Tags: lets move campaign, Michelle Obama, Multiple Sclerosis, president obama, Ryan McLaughlin, Shine on Scotland, us president, Vitamin D
Posted in Uncategorized

First Lady Michelle Obama has been putting her heart and soul into a new campaign to encourage healthy eating among youngsters.

And while America’s First Lady has always demonstrated an interest in vegetables and fitness, the mum-of-two has revealed the real motivation behind her schemes comes from her father.

“If I’m more reflective, because my father had multiple sclerosis and physical movement wasn’t a given for him, as I talk to my brother now, neither one of us took our physical fitness for granted,” she tells the Washington Post.

“We knew our father was a jock when he grew up – he boxed – and to see him go from that so quickly, without any warning, to someone who couldn’t walk without crutches, you don’t take that for granted. I don’t think my father ever did.”

“He did his best to always get out there with us. When he’d come home from work, if he was on a shift that would allow him to, we’d be boxing or throwing the ball or playing dodge ball. There was always some game involved.”

Michelle’s Let’s Move initiative has received a presidential nod of support and will be backed up with up to $1 billion a year in federal funds.

Call to invest in specialist nurses

Friday, February 26th, 2010 | Tags: budget cuts, Multiple Sclerosis, NHS, nurses, politics, Ryan McLaughlin, Shine on Scotland, specialist nurses, spending cuts
Posted in Uncategorized

The NHS could save millions of pounds by investing in nurses to support people with conditions like Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis, a union said.

Specialist nurses help keep people out of hospital by offering advice on medication and day-to-day living with an illness, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said.

It estimates £56 million a year could be saved on care for people with Parkinson’s through greater use of specialist nurses. Meanwhile, £180 million could be saved by treating multiple sclerosis flare-ups at home rather than in hospital.

Another £84 million could be saved if specialist nurses supported people with epilepsy rather than relying on GPs.

The RCN surveyed almost 300 specialist nurses working in 60 NHS organisations and charities and found only 36% believed all those patients who needed specialist nursing currently received it.

Of the 49% who identified problems accessing specialist care, 69% said specialist nurse services are overloaded and cannot take on new patients. More than a third said they had seen cuts in services over the last 12 months while 57% are concerned jobs will be threatened in the near future. Most (95%) of those seeing cuts said they were within the NHS.

Specialist nurses work in a range of areas, including cancer, diabetes and asthma.

Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the RCN, said: “Nurses realise that whoever wins the next election will be looking to make savings and to deliver more for less.

“While the temptation may be to cut or downgrade specialist nursing roles, this would be a false economy which would only add to the growing cost of treating long-term conditions. In fact, specialist nurses save money through the better management of conditions, keeping patients out of hospital, and advising on the best drug and other treatments.”

The RCN said the NHS was in such debt in 2006 that many specialist roles were lost, frozen or downgraded.

OUR FIGHT FOR THE SUNSHINE VITAMIN THAT PREVENTS MS

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 | Tags: bbc, Campaign, daily express, international conference, MS, MS Society Scotland, Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis Campaign, Nicola Sturgeon, oxford university, petitions committee, Professor George Ebers, Ryan McLaughlin, scotland, Vitamin D, vitamin d campaign, vitamin D summit, vitamins
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Daily Express

By Hilary Freeman

JUST two days after landing in Australia for a family holiday, Kirsten McLaughlin began to feel better. The 35-year-old mother wasn’t just enjoying the feel-good buzz we all enjoy on a well-deserved break. Kirsten, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) four years ago, found that her symptoms – particularly her crippling fatigue – had improved in the strong sunshine.

A month later, the family flew back to the UK and Kirsten, a former tae kwon do champion, became just as ill as before. Her son Ryan recalls: “The effects of the sun on mum were amazing. I did some research and found that sunshine produces vitamin D. I also found that Scotland, which does not get much sun, has one of the highest rates of MS in the world.”

Last year Ryan, 14, from Drumchapel, Glasgow, launched the Shine on Scotland campaign. Its aim is to ensure all children and pregnant women in Scotland receive free vitamin D supplements. “I don’t want other people to go through what my mum has been through,” he says. “I believe that taking vitamin D will prevent thousands of people developing MS.”

Ryan’s campaign is backed by many neurologists and author JK Rowling, whose late mother had the disease. It is becoming increasingly clear that vitamin D and some other environmental and genetic factors have a significant role to play in MS.

Until a few years ago scientists had little understanding of what caused the disease. All they knew was it becomes more prevalent the further you are from the equator and that there is a genetic element. It was also thought a virus might trigger the disease.

Recent research, however, means scientists might soon be able to predict those at risk of developing MS and even prevent some cases.

Gavin Giovannoni is a professor of neurology at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry and the co-author of a report into environmental factors affecting MS to be published next month.

“It’s clear one reason some people are more likely to get MS the further they live from the equator is the lack of sunlight,” he says. “The incidence of the disease has been increasing over the past few decades, particularly in women. It’s no coincidence that this has happened at the same time women have begun to avoid the sun and that sunblock has been put in make-up products.”

“Since the Islamic revolution there has been an epidemic of MS in women,” says Professor Giovannoni. “This can only be because they are now covered from head to toe and are no longer exposed to the sun.”

Research has also shown babies born in April or May – who grew in the womb during the winter months – are the most likely to get MS in later life, while those born in November are at much lower risk.

Another study published last year found evidence vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and infancy could increase a child’s risk of developing MS later in life.

The study established a direct relationship between a gene variant known as DRB1*1501 and vitamin D. While one in 1,000 people in the UK are likely to develop MS, this number rises to around one in 300 among those carrying a single copy of the variant and one in 100 of those carrying two copies.

Professor Giovannoni says: “Lack of vitamin D doesn’t cause MS on its own but it’s an important factor. Supplementing with the vitamin could mean some people who are susceptible to MS don’t go on to develop it.

“We’ve also identified a link between MS and the Epstein-Barr virus, which is responsible for glandular fever. If you don’t get the virus, your chance of getting MS is almost zero.

“The problem is 95 per cent of the population is infected with Epstein-Barr at some time. Scientists are working on a vaccine to prevent the virus and if they are successful, it could potentially have a massive impact on rates of MS.”
Dr Susan Kohlhaas, of the MS Society, says: “Researchers have thought for a long time that a combination of genes make some people more susceptible to developing MS.

However these are also common in the general population. Genes are only part of the story though and other environmental factors, such as vitamin D deficiency, exposure to certain viruses and lifestyle factors like smoking have also been implicated in MS.”

The French government has recently begun giving vitamin D to pregnant women. Professor Giovannoni, who says low levels of vitamin D are also implicated in many other diseases such as cancer and Type 2 diabetes, believes the same should be done in the UK.

He says: “We estimate that if you are vitamin D replete throughout your life you can probably lower your risk of developing MS by up to 85 per cent. I am sufficiently convinced to be giving my own daughters vitamin D supplements.”

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/159977/Our-fight-for-the-sunshine-vitamin-that-prevents-MS/

High levels of vitamin D halve the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes

Friday, February 19th, 2010 | Tags: Heart Disease, Ryan McLaughlin, Scottish Parliament, Shine on Scotland, vitamin d campaign
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People with high levels of vitamin D almost halve their risk of developing heart disease or diabetes, claim researchers.

They found those with lowest levels of the vitamin in their blood were at greater risk of a range of serious disorders.

The findings come from a review of 28 existing studies involving almost 100,000 people which looked at vitamin D levels among the middle-aged and elderly.

The research team from Warwick Medical School discovered a 43 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome among people with high levels of vitamin D.

They claim most people can boost their vitamin D intake through diet and sun exposure – at lest 30 minutes twice a week.

There is mounting evidence that vitamin D could play a vital role in helping prevent disease and stopping elderly people suffering falls.

US researchers last year claimed vitamin D ‘deficiency’ may be to blame for 600,000 cancer cases worldwide each year, particularly in northern European countries where sun exposure levels are relatively low.

The latest study published in the medical journal Maturitas found those with high levels of vitamin D were 33 per cent less at risk of having cardiovascular disease compared to those with low levels.

There was a 55 per cent reduction in risk of Type 2 diabetes and the risk of metabolic syndrome was halved.

‘Overall, we found that high levels of vitamin D are associated with a 43 per cent reduction in cardiometabolic disorders,’ said the researchers.

One of the authors, Dr Johanna Parker, who is currently working in a Birmingham GP practice, said the review excluded people given vitamin D supplements as part of the research, but they may have taken them of their own accord.

She said: ‘We recommend people eat a healthy diet with two to three portions of oily fish a week and five portions of fruit and vegetables.

‘Most, about 90 per cent, of your vitamin D comes from sunshine so we recommend sensible sun exposure in the summer.

‘People should expose themselves for 30 minutes twice a week – this means exposing the face and arms with no sunscreen.

‘This would provide the body with adequate vitamin D.’

Dr Oscar Franco, assistant professor in public health at Warwick Medical School, also worked on the research.

He said: ‘We found that high levels of vitamin D among middle-age and elderly populations are associated with a substantial decrease in cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

‘Targeting vitamin D deficiency in adult populations could potentially slow the current epidemics of cardiometabolic disorders.’

All studies included were published between 1990 and 2009 with the majority published between 2004 and 2009.

Although most people living in northern Europe are not sufficiently lacking in vitamin D to be classified as deficient, some experts believe blood levels should be higher to optimise health.

The mechanism by which vitamin D works is only partly understood, but it slows the rate of growth of cancer cells and may boost the function of blood vessels or the immune system.

Vitamin D supplements are available in two forms – vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 – researchers recommend vitamin D3 because it is more active and effective.

Vitamin D is found in salmon, tuna and other oily fish, and is routinely added to milk.

In the UK, the Food Standards Agency does not recommend a specific daily dose of vitamin D unless you are elderly, pregnant, Asian, get little sun exposure and eat no meat or oily fish when 10mcg is advised.

It says daily supplements of 25mcg are unlikely to cause harm.

The danger with taking excessive doses for long periods is that the body absorbs too much calcium, which could weaken bones and possibly damage liver and kidneys.

Vitamin D is ray of sunshine for multiple sclerosis patients

Friday, February 19th, 2010 | Tags: George Ebers, MS, MS Society Scotland, Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis Campaign, nhs scotland, Oliver Gillie, oxford university, prof george ebers, Ryan McLaughlin, scotland, Shine on Scotland, the times, Vitamin D, vitamin d campaign, vitamins
Posted in Uncategorized

By Melanie Reid – The Times

Multiple sclerosis could be prevented through daily vitamin D supplements, scientists told The Times last night.

The first causal link has been established between the “sunshine vitamin” and a gene that increases the risk of MS, raising the possibility that the debilitating auto-immune disease could be eradicated.

George Ebers, Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Oxford, claimed that there was hard evidence directly relating both genes and the environment to the origins of MS.

His work suggests that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and childhood may increase the risk of a child developing the disease.

He has also established the possibility that genetic vulnerability to MS, apparently initiated by lack of vitamin D, may be passed through families.

These risks might plausibly be reduced by giving vitamin D supplements to pregnant woman and young children.

“I think it offers the potential for treatment which might prevent MS in the future,” Professor Ebers said.

“Our research has married two key pieces of the puzzle. The interaction of vitamin D with the gene is very specific and it seems most unlikely to be a coincidence of any kind.”

Warnings over sun exposure could now also be called into question – sunlight allows the body to produce the vitamin.

Professor Ebers said: “Serious questions now arise over the wisdom of current advice to limit sun exposure and avoid sunbathing. We also need to give better advice and help to the public on vitamin D supplements, particularly pregnant and nursing mothers.”

The news has momentous implications for Scotland and other northern countries, where the incidence of multiple sclerosis is the highest in the world. It will give added urgency to recent moves by Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer to consider recommending vitamin D supplements.

Deficiency in vitamin D, caused by lack of exposure to sunshine, has been increasingly linked to the cloudier climate in Scotland and other northern latitudes. The deficiency is twice as common among the Scots as it is amongst the English – and Orkney and Shetland have among the highest rates.

Studies have also shown that fewer people with MS are born in November and more in May, implicating a lack of sunshine during pregnancy.

The breakthrough comes after a groundswell of expert belief in the importance of vitamin D. Last November, at a conference organised by the Scottish Government, international experts urged vitamin D supplements for Scots to be tested “sooner rather than later” to find whether they could improve the nation’s health.

Researchers for the World Health Organisation said there should be large, randomised trials as there was strong evidence that increased daily intake of vitamin D could significantly improve health.

The seminar followed evidence, revealed in The Times, that Scotland’s poor health record has close links to vitamin D deficiency. Last September this newspaper reported evidence from scientists in Canada that children with early symptoms of multiple sclerosis have low levels of vitamin D.

Until now there has been no scientific proof of the links. However, Professor Ebers and his team have shown that vitamin D affects a particular genetic variant, identified as the one that increases the risk of developing MS threefold.

They suggest that a shortage of the vitamin alters this variant, thus preventing the immune system from functioning normally.

Professor Ebers said: “Whether it’s at the core of MS is going to take some further work, but it does look like a reasonably good chance.”

Last October Professor Ebers, in an article in The Times, backed the idea of distributing vitamin D supplements in Scotland to guard against conditions that may be linked to a deficiency, including MS.

“It is plausible that some 200 cases a year of MS might be prevented in Scotland alone by giving vitamin D to mothers and children,” he wrote.

“Over a trial duration of 25 years, 5,000 cases of this disease might be otherwise prevented.

“The economic impact of each person with MS is at least an extra million pounds during a lifetime.

“Over 25 years £5 billion is at issue in this disease without factoring in the human cost, the increasing rate of MS or inflation. A large-scale programme providing vitamin D could provide scientific evidence.

UK Milk Has No Effect On Vitamin D Levels

Sunday, February 14th, 2010 | Tags: dept of health, drinking milk, fortified milk, MS, MS Society Scotland, Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis Campaign, nhs scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, Oliver Gillie, oxford university, petitions committee, Ryan McLaughlin, Scottish Parliament, Shine on Scotland, The Times Online, uk, Vitamin D, vitamin d campaign, vitamin d levels
Posted in Uncategorized

Recent media reports have covered research announced ahead of the American Academy of Neurology’s (AAN) Annual Meeting in April which suggested that milk during pregnancy may lower a baby’s risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life.

The theory from the researchers in Boston, announced in an AAN press release, was based on a survey of American mothers.

It was claimed that MS risk was lower among women born to mothers with high milk or dietary vitamin D intake in pregnancy.

Unfortunately UK media reports focussed on the milk link ; however it is in fact the case that there are only trace elements of vitamin D in milk consumed in this country.

Unlike America, most of Britain’s milk is not fortified with vitamin D and so whatever quantity of milk is ingested, vitamin D levels in the body are likely to remain unaffected.

MS Society Scotland and 14 year old Ryan Mclaughlin announced last week that Scotland will host a international conference on April 27 to discuss the role of vitamin D. The event, to take place in Glasgow, will be opened by Nicola Sturgeon, the Health Secretary. Leading researchers into links between vitamin D deficiency and multiple sclerosis are expected to attend.

Source
Multiple Scleroris Society

Schoolboy’s petition prompts move on MS link to vitamin D

Saturday, February 13th, 2010 | Tags: anniesland, Bill Butler MSP, child of the year award, Deputy First Minister, drumchapel, fortified milk, glasgow, JK Rowling, kirsten mclaughlin, ms society, MS Society Scotland, msp, Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis Campaign, Nicola Sturgeon, oxford university, petitions committee, prof george ebers, Ryan McLaughlin, Scottish Parliament, Shine on Scotland, The Times Online, Vitamin D, vitamin d campaign, vitamins
Posted in Uncategorized

An international conference is to be held in Scotland to discuss the health effects of vitamin D — thanks to the efforts of a 14-year-old schoolboy.

Ryan McLaughlin, from Glasgow, petitioned the Scottish Parliament questioning possible links between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis after discovering that the disease — from which his mother suffers — could be prevalent in Scotland because of vitamin D deficiency caused by a lack of sunlight.

The petition called on ministers to produce guidelines on vitamin D supplements for children and pregnant women, and launch an awareness campaign. As a result of his efforts, the Scottish government recognised “an urgent need” to provide information to health professionals and mothers, and is to launch a campaign.

Ministers also agreed to host a conference on April 27 to discuss the role of vitamin D. The event, to take place in Glasgow, will be opened by Nicola Sturgeon, the Health Secretary. Leading researchers into links between vitamin D deficiency and multiple sclerosis are expected to attend.

Yesterday, as the Public Petitions Committee agreed to close Ryan’s petition, members congratulated him for his achievement. Bill Butler, Ryan’s local MSP, hailed the schoolboy’s effort, saying that “a very great deal of progress” had been made.

The Glasgow Anniesland representative praised the way “Ryan and the McLaughlin family have persuaded the government; and the government has listened to the very sensible suggestions contained in the petition.

“The government has agreed to a co-ordinated programme of action with NHS Scotland to produce guidance on vitamin D, to educate women on its importance, to consider different messages for different groups of people, and to ensure that health professionals are giving correct and consistent advice to pregnant women and new mothers. Not only should the McLaughlin family be congratulated, but also the government for listening.”

He described that as a significant success. An image of Ryan is now featured on promotional literature for the petitions committee. Speaking about the campaign, Ryan said: “After an amazing year in raising both vitamin D and MS awareness, I now have the commitments that I wanted from the Scottish government.

“I applaud the positive action taken by the Scottish government and the support from Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Shona Robison, Health and Sports Minister.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish government said: “We’re keen to learn all we can about any possible links between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis and are keeping a very close eye on all the emerging evidence.”

• Breast cancer is diagnosed more often in the spring and autumn, and less often in the summer, leading researchers to suggest that its season-ality may be connected to vitamin D deficiency. Researchers at the University of South Carolina, who examined 2,921,714 breast cancer cases, also found that the seasonality was increasingly prominent the further away from the equator that the women lived. This implies that lack of sunshine, and therefore vitamin D, was a factor.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article7021318.ece

Schoolboy proud of vitamin D campaign

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 | Tags: campaigner, health news, MS Society Scotland, Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis Campaign, multiple slerosis news, news, Nicola Sturgeon, petitions committee, Ryan McLaughlin, scotland, Scottish government, Scottish Parliment, Shine on Scotland, The Herald, Vitamin D, vitamin d campaign, vitamin d3
Posted in Uncategorized

heraldscotland staff

Published on 9 Feb 2010

A schoolboy who petitioned the Scottish Parliament about possible links between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis has said he is proud of what he had achieved.

Ryan McLaughlin, 14, took his case to Holyrood’s Public Petition Committee last summer.

The petition called on ministers to produce new guidelines on vitamin D supplements for children and pregnant women, along with an awareness campaign about the issue.

The Scottish Government has now agreed to support and host a summit in April on the role of vitamin D and to produce the guidance on supplements.

Ryan took up the cause after watching his mother Kirsten suffering the incurable disease.

The Public Petitions Committee has greed to close his petition.

Ryan said afterwards: “After an amazing year in raising both vitamin D and MS awareness, I now have the commitments that I wanted from the Scottish Government.

“I applaud the positive action taken by the Scottish Government and the support from Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Shona Robison, Health and Sports Minister.”

Ryan’s local MSP Bill Butler hailed the campaigning schoolboy’s achievement, saying “a very great deal of progress” has been made.

The Glasgow Anniesland MSP praised how “Ryan and the McLaughlin family have persuaded the Government and the Government has listened to the very sensible suggestions contained in the petition”.

He said: “The Government has agreed to a co-ordinated programme of action with NHS Scotland to produce guidance on vitamin D, to educate women on its importance, to consider different messages for different groups of people and to ensure that health professionals are giving correct and consistent advice to pregnant women and new mothers in relation to vitamin D.”

He described that as a “significant success”, and added: “It’s people listening to what is a very sensible set of suggestions from someone whose personal circumstances have convinced him that there is need for reform here.

“It’s a success story.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “We’re keen to learn all we can about any possible links between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis and are keeping a very close eye on all the emerging evidence.”

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/schoolboy-proud-of-vitamin-d-campaign-1.1005227

Milk in pregnancy may lower MS risk

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 | Tags: fortified milk, fortified school milk, ms risk, pregnancy, press association, Ryan McLaughlin, scotland, Shine on Scotland, vitamin d campaign
Posted in Uncategorized

Mothers-to-be can reduce their babies’ risk of developing multiple sclerosis in later life by drinking milk, research suggests.

The link emerged from a study of 35,794 female nurses whose mothers provided information about their diet during pregnancy. Of the nurses taking part, 199 developed multiple sclerosis (MS) over a 16-year period.

The researchers found that the risk of MS was lower among women born to mothers who drank a lot of milk while pregnant. A similar trend was seen for vitamin D. Mothers who had a relatively high vitamin D intake during pregnancy also gave birth to daughters with a reduced risk of MS.

Dr Fariba Mirzaei, from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, US, who led the study, said: “The risk of MS among daughters whose mothers consumed four glasses of milk per day was 56% lower than daughters whose mothers consumed less than three glasses of milk per month.

“We also found the risk of MS among daughters whose mothers were in the top 20% of vitamin D intake during pregnancy was 45% lower than daughters whose mothers were in the bottom 20% for vitamin D intake during pregnancy.”

She added: “There is growing evidence that vitamin D has an effect on MS. The results of this study suggest that this effect may begin in the womb.”

Exposure to sunlight, oily fish such as salmon and mackerel and fortified milk are key sources of vitamin D.

The research was presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting in Toronto, Canada.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h6LXkXVsMbkT6Jpc603zVlyiX4Qg

Success at Parliament for schoolboy campaigner

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 | Tags: glasgow, MS Society Scotland, Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis Campaign, Nicola Sturgeon, petitions committee, Ryan McLaughlin, schoolboy, scientific summit, scotland, Scottish government, Scottish Parliment, Shine on Scotland, STV News, Vitamin D, vitamin d campaign
Posted in Uncategorized

Story by STV news

The Scottish Govenrment has made a series of key pledges relating to MS and vitamin D, following a petition by Ryan McLaughlin.

A schoolboy who set out to raise awareness of the medical condition suffered by his mother has spoken of his pride in securing a number of key pledges from the Scottish Government.

Ryan McLaughlin went to Holyrood’s Public Petition Committee last year to raise the issue of links between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis.

The 14-year-old’s petition called on ministers to produce new guidelines on vitamin D supplements for children and pregnant women, along with an awareness campaign about the issue.

The Scottish Government has now agreed to support and host a summit in April on the role of vitamin D. New guidance on supplements will also now be published. and to produce the guidance on supplements.

Ryan took up the cause a year ago after watching his mother Kirsten suffering the incurable disease. On Tuesday, the committee agreed to close his petition.

Ryan said: “After an amazing year in raising both vitamin D and MS awareness, I now have the commitments that I wanted from the Scottish Government.

“I applaud the positive action taken by the Scottish Government and the support from Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Shona Robison, Health and Sports Minister.”

Ryan’s local MSP Bill Butler hailed the campaigning schoolboy’s achievement, saying “a very great deal of progress” has been made.

The Glasgow Anniesland politician hailed the way “Ryan and the McLaughlin family have persuaded the Government and the Government has listened to the very sensible suggestions contained in the petition”.

He described that as a “significant success”, adding: “It’s people listening to what is a very sensible set of suggestions from someone whose personal circumstances have convinced him that there is need for reform here.