News

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