We are delighted to announce the appointment of House of Lords Peer, Baroness McIntosh of Pickering, to the role of Vice President. 

Baroness Anne McIntosh was invited to take on the role with the Encephalitis Society following a meeting with Chief Executive, Dr Ava Easton, at the House of Lords in April.

She said:

The Encephalitis Society is a shining example of a charity offering help, guidance and support to sufferers.I have a personal interest as my husband contracted encephalitis as a 24 year-old. 

Fortunately, he made a good recovery, but I am very conscious that others are not as fortunate as John has been. 

I have been impressed by the work of The Encephalitis Society for some time and I am looking forward to doing whatever I can to support their work and raise awareness of encephalitis among the general public, health professionals and my colleagues in the House of Lords. 

Fittingly, the headquarters of The Encephalitis Society are based in the Thirsk and Malton constituency which Baroness McIntosh served as MP between 2010 and 2015. 

She joins several other high-profile supporters of the Encephalitis Society, including two-time Olympic gold medallist, Rebecca Adlington, actress Kika Markham, Guardian journalist Simon Hattenstone and BBC Look North presenter, Charlotte Leeming. 

Dr Easton said:

We are delighted that Baroness McIntosh has agreed to become a vice president with The Encephalitis Society.  

She is someone we have admired for a long time and believe her experience and, above all, her enthusiasm will be a true asset to our work in the UK and abroad.