Minister backs Scottish campaign for independent living

20 September 2007
Families and individuals living with muscle disease in Scotland were joined by Ministers and MSPs from across the parties at a lobby of the Scottish Parliament.

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign was calling on the Scottish Government to make independent living a priority for people with muscle disease, by improving provision of powered wheelchairs and home adaptations.

Speaking at the reception, Minister for Public Health Shona Robison MSP, paid tribute to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign: “I very much welcome the reception’s focus on independent living. It’s an aim we support.

“The Scottish Government wants to work with the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign to make sure that services for people with a neuromuscular disease are delivered in a way that’s responsive to each person’s need. I was delighted to see so many MSPs from across the parties joining forces in the fight against muscle disease and making independent living a priority."

Commenting on the event, Stephen McDonald, Chair of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s Scottish Council said: "By joining forces with other families and people with the condition, the Health Minster heard at first hand why Wheelchair Services are in urgent need of improvement for people with progressive conditions.

“It’s a waste time talking to local Wheelchair Services if you want anything supplied quickly for young people with muscle disease.

“It’s simply not good enough that many families with severely disabled children are forced to privately fund essential powered wheelchairs due to a lack of funding from local NHS Wheelchair Services.”

Attending the event and supporting the campaign, River City actor Eileen McCallum, whose two grandchildren have Duchenne muscular dystrophy, said: “At the moment the needs of my grandchildren are being met but I’m concerned about what the future might hold. Too often in Scotland wheelchair provision is inconsistent, inadequate and often subject to a postcode lottery. Mobility is a basic right - the technology is there and yet we’re lagging behind.

“We need the help of our Parliament now, and I call on MSPs from across the parties to back the campaign.”

Get involved

If you want to campaign for better services for people with muscle disease in Scotland then email campaigns@muscular-dystrophy.org and you will be sent a postcard to send on to your MSP, or call 020 7803 4847 for more information.