More MS news articles for May 2004

Patient organisations give evidence on palliative care

http://www.mssociety.org.uk/news_events/news/campaigns/palliative_care1.html

May 10, 2004
Multiple Sclerosis Society

On Thursday 6th May 2004, the committee of MP’s for health met for the third oral evidence session in the inquiry into palliative care.

The committee heard evidence from a number of witnesses including representatives from the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Age Concern, CancerBACUP, and the Community and District Nursing Association.

MP's at the session included Dr Richard Taylor, a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for MS, who emphasised neurological conditions when asking the witnesses about the sort of palliative care provision they would like to see in place. The main points discussed were around education and communication, enabling choice and advanced planning of end of life care.

The MS Society supports this inquiry and submitted written evidence to the committee at the beginning of the year.

The Society hopes that the the National Service Framework (NSF) for long-term conditions due out early next year will incorporate the palliative care needs of people with neurological conditions, and generate an appropriate service to reflect the needs of people with such conditions.