Protect and Progress‘ follows the publication of the MND Association’s first Northern Ireland manifesto. It details recommendations on how to protect vital services for people with MND and progress high quality care. In particular, the report places an emphasis on the urgent need for a review of neurological services.
MND kills an average of 37 people in Northern Ireland every year and there are currently 100 people in Northern Ireland living with the disease.
Speaking at the launch event held at Stormont, Dr Kirstine Knox, Chief Executive of the MND Association, stressed the importance of an urgent review of neurological services: “Getting it right for MND means getting it right for all neurological conditions.
[caption id="attachment_25667" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Monty and Maureen Williams from Downpatrick with future health minister Jim Wells MLA at Stormont."]
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There are currently 48,000 people living with a neurological condition in Northern Ireland; a review of neurological services could identify efficiency savings and deliver a higher quality of care not only for people with MND but also those affected by more slowly progressing neurological conditions.
“It is vital that MND is used as a paradigm to model neurological services around, because if you can deliver services for people with MND, you can deliver services for everyone affected by a neurological condition.”
A review of neurological services would also determine the impact of the recent closure of 25% of the neurology beds at the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast.
The event was attended by MLAs and representatives and members of the MND Association, including eight people who are living with the disease. Forty-year-old Jacqui Mulligan, a mum-of-three who has had MND since 2004, delivered a speech about her personal experience through her carer Kate. She highlighted the importance of maintaining adequate support for people affected by MND in Northern Ireland.
Health Minister Edwin Poots along with Health Committee Chair Michelle Gildernew and UUP Health Spokesperson John McCallister also spoke at the event and thanked the MND Association for raising the important issue.
Health Minister Edwin Poots said, “The MND Association is very experienced in providing the most appropriate care and support for sufferers and their families in Northern Ireland. Through their extensive knowledge and expertise they have produced the Protect and Progress report which will inform the development of future policy undertaken by my Department.”]]>
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