Multiple sclerosis services failing

Social care services are failing people with multiple sclerosis,
according to a new report.

The report, commissioned by the Multiple Sclerosis Society,
found that almost 70 per cent of people with the illness do not
have a care manager or a social worker.

It also revealed that only 58 per cent of people with MS had
used personal care services and 30 per cent said their care
provider performed poorly when reassessing their needs as their
condition changed. The report, which was based on a survey of 1,200
people with MS and their carers, also found that 55 per cent of
people with progressive MS and 41 per cent with a relapsing type of
the illness gave low marks to the way assessors for disability
living allowance takes into account the fluctuating nature of the
condition.

Launching the report, Square Pegs, Round Holes, at a meeting of
the All Party Parliamentary Group in Westminster this week, chief
executive of the society Mike O’Donovan said: “The most worrying
thing we found in social care and benefits is a lack of flexibility
or ability to adapt to changes in someone’s condition.”

He added: “All too often this means changing care needs are not
being met or appropriate services given and we are asking the
government to look into this urgently.”

O’Donovan said: “GPs and disability living allowance assessors
need training in the changing nature of MS to avoid people being
given unsuitable care packages.”

‘Square Pegs, Round Holes’ from www.mssociety.org.uk