MS specialist nursing in crisis

Arecent survey carried out by the Trust showed that 27% of posts are under financial risk. Nicola Russell of the MS Trust said: “We are worried that MS may be seen as a soft target for cost cutting because it has a lower profile than some other diseases. It is outrageous that people with MS, who are already vulnerable, are being penalised for shortfalls within the NHS.”

MS specialist nurses are crucial to the care of people with MS. They play a key role in providing sufferers with information and facilitate self-management and independence. This latest survey follows an earlier report produced by the group Therapists in MS under the auspices of the MS Trust, which stated that MS specialist therapists will have to take a greater role if National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on MS are to be successfully implemented.

The NICE guidelines in question called for commissioners to ensure specialised neurological and neurological rehabilitation services are available for all MS patients when needed.
Despite this, widespread differences in the availability of specialist therapists remain, and just 100 suitably qualified physiotherapists, occupational and speech/language therapists are currently working in the UK.