Thursday 19 January 2012
Fight for increased Care Advisor support in Scotland
Essential Care Advisor posts were at the top of the agenda yesterday as the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign met with Scottish Government Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson MSP.
The meeting was arranged following the Minister's speech at the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's Scottish Conference in October 2011, at which Mr Matheson referred to proposals for Muscle Specialist Advisor posts.
These posts would retain the core role of the Care Advisor in providing essential care, support and advice to people living with neuromuscular conditions. The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, supported at the meeting by Chair of the Cross Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy in the Scottish Parliament, Jackie Baillie MSP, emphasised to the Minister that it is vital for these crucial posts to be appointed as soon as possible. The Minister acknowledged the frustration of campaigners at the delays in setting up these posts and said that the NHS is progressing towards the recruitment of the three posts this year.
The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss care packages for people with long term conditions, social work adviser posts and the recommendations put forward in the Mackie Report.
Robbie Warner, Chair of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's Scottish Council, and Dr Stephen Banham, Consultant Respiratory Physician, attended the meeting. Robbie commented:
The meeting with the Minister was a welcome opportunity to clarify the situation regarding care advisor posts for Scotland. We were reassured these three full time posts will be in place in the next financial year. The Minister further indicated a possible reform of the process around the development of care packages for patients with long term conditions. While no details were forthcoming, we got the sense of a more streamlined procedure, making the process simpler for those requiring such levels of care. Clearly, this is a potential development worth watching out for.
For more information about the campaign to improve specialist neuromuscular care in Scotland, please get in touch:
020 7803 4839
campaigns@muscular-dystrophy.org
