Monday 4 April 2011
Northern Ireland families fight for care
Campaigners and leading clinicians announced their fight for improved specialist neuromuscular care at the Northern Ireland Muscle Group launch in Belfast on Friday 1 April.
Discussions on access to services included problems and difficulties with:
- support following diagnosis
- specialist ongoing physiotherapy and hydrotherapy
- access to wheelchairs and equipment
- transition from paediatric to adult service.
These are the key issues that will be highlighted to Belfast Health and Social Care Trust as requiring urgent action.
While the long-term future of the Northern Ireland Care Advisor has been secured, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign has emphasised that additional Care Advisor posts are required to meet the need for specialist care, support and advice across Northern Ireland.
The new Northern Ireland Muscle Group members, who were joined by Conall McDevitt, a Northern Ireland Assembly candidate for Belfast South, will focus on improving access to essential NHS specialised services and social care in Northern Ireland for the 2,000 children and adults living with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions.
To coincide with the group's launch, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign has also published a new Manifesto for Muscle in Northern Ireland, that asks candidates for the forthcoming Northern Ireland Assembly elections on 5 May to sign up to pledges to support people affected by muscle disease.
We need your help to secure the support of potential Northern Ireland Assembly members - send a copy of the Manifesto to your candidates.
For more information about the campaign to improve services in Northern Ireland, please get in touch:
020 7803 4839
campaigns@muscular-dystrophy.org
CampaignsMD Blog
Twitter: CampaignsMD
