Two year waiting list must be reduced says MS Society, NI

The MS Society, NI and the All Party Political Group on MS, are dissappointed that a recent meeting with Health Minister, Shaun Wood, has not led to immediate improvements for people with MS waiting for treatment.

In the last twelve months, the number of people waiting over two years for treatment has doubled.

Kieran Harris, director of the MS Society, NI, said, “We are extremely frustrated that we received little encouragement from the Minister and his officials that people who are waiting on disease modifying treatments will actually get these treatments within a reasonable timescale.”

The group emphasised the government's moral responsibility to act and the importance of administering treatments early to people with MS.

Political support

The recently formed All Party Political Group on MS - made up of representatives from NI’s main political parties - has pledged continuing support for the charity’s campaign to have the situation re-dressed.

Petition for funding

The charity also handed overa petition with 8,500 signatures in support of the Society’s call for an immediate increase in funding.

Mr Harris added that the Society will be seeking further meetings with the Minister to discuss the problem.