MSP backing health review

Oct 8 2009 by Debbie Hall, West Lothian Courier

ANGELA Constance MSP has joined forces with local campaigners, as a major review into muscle disease is announced

The MSP for Livingston joined local families and campaigners last week at a lobby of the Scottish Parliament to celebrate the announcement of a thorough review of neuromuscular services across Scotland.

This is commitment that should improve the lives of families living with muscle disease living in West Lothian.

Local campaigners have been calling for an urgent review of health and social care services, following revelations that the 5500 adults and children living with muscle disease in Scotland face a ‘postcode lottery’ of specialist services.

Speaking at Holyrood, Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, said: “We want to build on the work the work already done by the Muscular Dystrophy campaign and the Scottish Muscle Network to take a systematic look at services across Scotland for people living with neuromuscular conditions, such as myotonic dystrophy and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

“The Scottish Government has made funding of £35,000 available to allow the network to take this forward.

“It’s important that people living with these conditions get the care and support they need. We want to make sure that’s achieved and that people benefit from the improvements in life expectancy and quality of life.”

Commenting on the announcement and lobby, Angela Constance, who has also added her name to a motion in the Scottish Parliament welcoming the new review, added: “I was delighted to meet with local campaigners and families keen to see improvements in access to specialist care.

“They can certainly count on my full support in the fight against muscle disease in Scotland.”

Robbie Warner, Chair of the Scottish Council of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, whose son Eoghan has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, said: “I am delighted that we can count on the support of Angela Constance in our campaign to enhance essential services for families like mine, who are living with this devastating condition.

“We’re now calling on the Scottish government, Health Boards and Councils to build on this commitment and ensure that services urgently improve for patients with rare muscle wasting diseases.”