‘This despicable government wants to take Multiple Sclerosis nurses away,’ wheelchair-bound retiree George Goodger told News Line yesterday after handing in a petition to Downing Street.
George and a group from the patient-led MS Nurses Campaign handed in a 2,000 signature ‘guestbook’ of appeals against cuts obtained from their website.
He told News Line: ‘I suffer from MS. I’m very concerned that in 2007 the government are going to reduce the funding for NHS MS nurses by a quarter.
‘What the government is doing is putting more stress on people.
‘And this is something MS people must not have, because stress makes the disease worse.
‘What the government is doing is diabolical.
‘It takes probably six months to see a neurologist.
‘Multiple Sclerosis is so unpredictable.
‘In those six months you could be worse, you could be dead, or you could be better.
‘In those six months an MS nurse can see you and alleviate your problems there and then.
‘They put the stress factor out the window because they can advise patients on drugs, benefits, legal matters – everything.’
Rachel Evans said: ‘I’m semi-retired and have MS and am forgetful as a result.
‘I’m currently waiting for an appointment with a cognitive function specialist who will aim to get me back to work.
‘A local MS nurse arranged my referral.
‘The MS nurses service is invaluable because they understand the complete variability of the disease between individuals and can put their patients in touch with essential services that are relevant to them specifically.
‘What the government is doing is wrong because MS is such a difficult disease and we need the specialist attention.’
Marc Falber added: ‘I have MS. I was diagnosed two months ago.
‘What the government is doing is appalling.
‘It’s typical of governments. When they want to save money they look at the front line and save money where it should be spent, not saved.
‘MS is so unpredictable. I can see my MS nurse in a few days.
‘If she wasn’t there, I would have to go back to my GP and get a referral to the neurologist which will take six months.
‘Who knows what will happen in six months time?’
