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Standards Launched - Now the Real Work Begins
19.11.09
A long campaign to establish standards for the care of people living with multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions in Scotland has just reached a significant milestone. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland has formally published the final version of the standards at an official launch in Glasgow. The standards cover generic neurological services as well as condition specific services such as MS.
The Society was well represented at the launch event and BBC journalist Elizabeth Quigley gave a powerful presentation of her experience of living with MS and outlined her hope that the standards would help to provide a clearer route map for patients and a better understanding of what can be expected from the health service.
The MS Register was also highlighted by Dr Richard Metcalfe, Clinical Advisor to NHS QIS, as an exemplar model of data collection at the launch and the official health service implementation document makes specific reference to the MS Register as a data source.
The MS Society Scotland has campaigned for such standards over many years and has been involved in the process of drafting them. Commenting on the publication David McNiven, Director of the MS Society Scotland, said:
“These standards are a seminal document for people living with MS in Scotland and their publication is the culmination of many years of hard work. That work was just the first step and now it is crucial that we actively participate in ensuring that the standards are implemented quickly and effectively.
The MS Society Scotland will be fully involved in the implementation process and make sure that the voice of people with MS continues to be heard loud and clear. Local delivery in each health board area will be vital and our focus as an organisation is on supporting that.
We will be constantly engaged with our members to monitor progress. 2010 is set to be an exciting campaigning year for the MS Society Scotland with work towards the implementation of the standards and the holding of a Government sponsored summit on vitamin D”.
More information is available on the NHS QIS website
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 Help us campaign
Join the MS Society Scotland's Policy Forum
For more information:
Craig Wilkie
Policy Officer
MS Society Scotland
Tel: 0131 335 4050
email
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