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Neurological patients in Wales to receive better care Neurological patients in Wales to receive better care
(about 2 hours later)
Patients with neurological conditions are set to have improved access to better quality care no matter where they live in Wales. Half-a-million people living in Wales with a neurological condition will getter better access to care and treatment, says the Welsh government.
The Welsh government and social services have launched a delivery plan that will help around 500,000 patients. It is launching a new three-year delivery plan to improve how the NHS deals with conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's Disease and epilepsy.
Diseases, such as Parkinson's, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis (MS), affect the body's nervous system and cause permanent, debilitating symptoms. Proposals include raising awareness with both the public and clinicians.
The plan sets out expectations for health boards for the next three years. Health boards are being asked to develop and implement their own plans.
It is part of a wider strategy, Together for Health, to improve the NHS and include raising awareness of neurological conditions, offering timely diagnosis and fast, effective care. Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: "We must provide excellent care, whether that is through timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment or continuing support.
"Neurological conditions have a very serious and lasting impact on the lives of individuals and their families.
"By focusing on quality and individual's experiences we will deliver the improvements we all want to achieve."
'Frustrating''Frustrating'
Paul Robinson, from Loughor, Swansea, was diagnosed with MS in 2006 and said the health service in Wales had been frustrating.Paul Robinson, from Loughor, Swansea, was diagnosed with MS in 2006 and said the health service in Wales had been frustrating.
"I had a two-year wait trying to go from one drug to another and during that time I accumulated quite a lot of disability," he said."I had a two-year wait trying to go from one drug to another and during that time I accumulated quite a lot of disability," he said.
"It's very frustrating, you have to jump through hoops to get anywhere.""It's very frustrating, you have to jump through hoops to get anywhere."
Mr Robinson said he hoped the new delivery plan would improve access to treatment for patients.Mr Robinson said he hoped the new delivery plan would improve access to treatment for patients.
"It's a step in the right direction but it's something I would have liked to have seen 20 years ago," he said."It's a step in the right direction but it's something I would have liked to have seen 20 years ago," he said.
"It's definitely going to benefit people living with these conditions here in Wales.""It's definitely going to benefit people living with these conditions here in Wales."
Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: "We must provide excellent care, whether that is through timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment or continuing support." Challenges
Individual health boards will develop and implement their own plans, while an implementation group will see the Welsh government's objectives are achieved.Individual health boards will develop and implement their own plans, while an implementation group will see the Welsh government's objectives are achieved.
Joseph Carter, acting director of MS Society Wales, said the Welsh government would face a challenge in measuring the success of the plan .Joseph Carter, acting director of MS Society Wales, said the Welsh government would face a challenge in measuring the success of the plan .
He added: "We're very keen to involve service users in each health board to make sure we can test things out and make sure it is delivering for people on the ground.He added: "We're very keen to involve service users in each health board to make sure we can test things out and make sure it is delivering for people on the ground.
"At the moment there are a lot of warm words that will hopefully drive change, but we need to measure that.""At the moment there are a lot of warm words that will hopefully drive change, but we need to measure that."