Physical Health United Kingdom Project #6675

Free enquiry service for people with MS in the UK.

by Multiple Sclerosis Trust

Free enquiry service for people with MS in the UK.

Project Report | May 26, 2016
Stem Cell Research Update

By Kirstie Connah | Individual Giving Officer

The Information Team are continuing to work hard to stay abreast of current developments in the stem cell research arena. Earlier this year they contributed to the BBC current affairs programme – Panorama and commented on the availability and feasibility of stem cell therapy for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). There has been lots of media hype and speculation whether it is possible for stem cells to become cell types which could slow MS disease activity, repair existing damage or replace faulty parts of the immune system or nervous system. Stem cell therapy is already being used for other conditions, such as cancer of the blood (leukaemia).

Your donation will enable us to continue to research into innovative projects and in turn fulfil our ongoing commitment to improve the lives of everyone living with MS.

We are currently supporting research in to Stem Cells, providing vital funds to the ACTiMuS trial Bristol, looking at the effects of bone marrow stem cell infusion people with progressive MS. By supporting stem cell research in these ways we remain at the forefront of supporting significant advances in MS treatments.

The MS Trust is also funding a pioneering group in London to conduct the first audit of a real-world UK MS Stem Cell service run beyond a clinical trial. These findings will enable Health Professionals and MS multidisciplinary teams in future to quickly determine the likelihood of success of treatment, to ensure that only compatible people are treated. With this detailed and regulated selection in place many will be saved from unnecessary delays and demanding, prolonged tests.

It is thanks to the generosity of the MS Trust supporters like you that we are able to further develop this vital work for those affected by multiple sclerosis.

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Feb 24, 2016
Happy to help you

By Kirstie connah | Fundraising Team

At the MS Trust we believe one of the best ways to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is to support them to take more control of their MS. Our information team produces practical, evidence based information so they can:

• make choices that are right for them

• decide how best to deal with their health

• have better informed discussions with their health professionals

Our Information Team pride themselves on their knowledge and experience enabling them to help people living with MS by providing accurate and useful information. They run the Enquiry Service each day and respond to queries through the telephone, post, email and social media. They are constantly reviewing their approach and processes to ensure that they are best serving the people that contact us.

In November they conducted a user survey and invited feedback from people using our service. The response was very positive, 94% of callers said that they would use the service again. The majority of callers also reported an increase in confidence, knowledge and understanding as a result of their contact. 84.6% of the people that responded to the survey indicating that they found the information they received useful. 57% of the November enquirers had contacted us before, showing that they value, trust and respect the information they receive from us.

Our enquirers told us after calling our Enquiry Service;

“The lady I spoke to was extremely helpful and informative so it gave me confidence and filled in the gaps in my knowledge.” Anon

“I feel supported by the MS Trust. I know that I am not on my own. You can always help.” Anon

This feedback is so encouraging and pleasing for us that we know we are valued by people with MS. Thank you for supporting us with your donations and enabling us to continue this important work.

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Dec 8, 2015
MS Decisions

By Kirstie Connah | Individual Giving Officer

Sharing Knowledge

Our Information Team at the MS Trust not only deals with enquiries through the telephone service, website forums and emails but through the booklets and factsheets they produce too.

These publications include information on symptoms, medications and treatments.

This year the MS Trust has worked with health professionals, people with MS and other MS charities to try to create a new focus on treating relapsing remitting MS as soon as possible. We believe there’s increasing evidence that early treatment improves the chances of people with MS staying healthy in the long term.

Help to consider drugs for MS

However, working out which treatment is right for you can seem more complicated than ever. The range of options for MS treatment has expanded significantly in recent years. There are now 11 disease modifying drugs licensed for treating MS in the UK. They’re each taken and monitored in different ways, and they each have their own benefits and risks. What’s more, not all of them are available in all parts of the UK.

Back in 2004, the Department of Health launched a website called MS Decisions. This was designed to help people find out more about MS treatment options. Thousands of people visited the site and found the independent information useful. However, over the years, the information didn’t keep pace with the changes in MS treatments.

This year the MS Trust took over responsibility for MS Decisions. We wanted to update it so that it offered reliable, independent information on all the MS drugs now available – and make sure it remains accurate as new treatments become available in the years to come.

Clear and accessible information

But we also wanted to make sure that the information was presented in a way that made it easy for people to MS to see what options were available, consider the factors that are important to them, and compare MS drugs in a simple, intuitive way.

We’ve worked closely with people with MS, MS nurses and neurologists to develop the new MS Decisions. The site now features a guide to making your decision, full details about all of the drugs, a list of common questions, as well the decision aid.

We’ve also redesigned our booklet Disease modifying drugs to complement the site and to help people with their MS become better informed and have more productive meetings with their health professionals.

We can only do this thanks to donations from people like you.

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