THE SDLP’s Mark H Durkan has written to the Minister of Health and the Minister for Communities respectively to raise concerns around Multiple Sclerosis services, including access to treatment and diagnoses post COVID-19.
Said the Foyle MLA: “Research recently conducted by the MS Society has revealed the wider impact of this crisis on those living with Multiple Sclerosis.
“It has highlighted issues with access to support, ranging from inability to secure medications to having visits from domiciliary care workers reduced or cancelled entirely.
“Perhaps most staggeringly, only 55 per cent of respondents felt they were coping in the current climate.
“I have no doubt that these figures will be reflected right across the board among people living with long-term health conditions.
“I have written to Health Minister Robin Swann to ensure his department works together with professionals and charities, so that people who have received a diagnosis of MS are not delayed in receiving treatment in the longer-term.
“Likewise, I have appealed to Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey for an uplift in legacy and similar benefits including ESA, in line with the increase received by Universal Credit claimants.
“Evidently, this public health emergency has impacted all lives and all sectors of society.
“While focus right now is very much on seeing this through safely together, we must also look at the far-reaching effects COVID-19 will have and is already having within health; including access to treatment, diagnoses times and funding for clinical research programmes.
“Any delay or restrictions imposed on existing services will likely have a profound impact on people living with MS and other chronic health conditions in the future.”
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