Tuesday 27 September 2011
Major new inquiry announced by Northern Ireland Assembly's Muscular Dystrophy group
A major inquiry into neuromuscular services was announced by the new All Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy in the Northern Ireland Assembly today as the Health Minister joined Assembly colleagues and families at the launch meeting.
Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) heard shocking experiences of access to services from members of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's new Northern Ireland Muscle Group and Northern Ireland Trailblazers.
The All Party Group will be chaired by Conall McDevitt MLA, who has been a committed supporter of people living with muscle disease in their efforts to secure the services they are entitled to. He said after the meeting:
I am looking forward to leading this new group as we undertake a thorough inquiry into service provision on behalf of people with muscle-wasting diseases across Northern Ireland. We have heard alarming experiences of accessing services at our launch meeting and this All Party Group is determined to establish the improvements which are required to increase the quality of care for these vulnerable families.
The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is providing all the organisational support for the All Party Group. We look forward to working with families from across Northern Ireland and MLAs as we undertake this groundbreaking inquiry to establish the urgently required service improvements for people living with muscle disease.
The members of the new All Party Group, in conducting the inquiry, will ensure that the needs of people living with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions are highlighted in the Northern Ireland Assembly and will press for improvements to essential specialist care and support for families across Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Executive Health Minister, Edwin Poots MLA, addressed the All Party Group following the discussion and will receive the All Party Group's report when it is launched next year. He commented:
I welcome the opportunity to be here and to lend my support to the new All Party Group, which I hope will be a great advocate at the Assembly on behalf of those with Muscular Dystrophy. I look forward to hearing more about the All Party Group's future agenda and the actions they wish to take forward.
The Minister acknowledged the difficulties faced by people living with muscular dystrophy and the impact the condition has on their daily lives, and thanked those in attendance for sharing their personal experiences.
For more information about the All Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy in the Northern Ireland Assembly, please get in touch:
020 7803 4839
j.kingsley@muscular-dystrophy.org
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