Stevenson Shows Support for MS Awareness Week

Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has signed his SNP colleague, Tricia Marwick’s Parliamentary Motion highlighting MS Awareness Week.

Commenting on the issue, Mr Stevenson said:

“Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an incurable neurological condition, which usually strikes at the prime of life and it is estimated that 2,500,000 people in the world have MS - and, of those, over 10,000 are in Scotland. Around 50 people, usually between 20 and 40 years of age, are diagnosed every week.

“Medical research has uncovered many probable factors in MS, such as the environment, a genetic link, and a trigger virus. However the cause has yet to be conclusively identified. Symptoms can range from mild and occasional illness to severe and rapid deterioration. Fortunately for most people with MS, the pain lies somewhere in between the two extremes. The most common symptoms include extreme weakness, slow speech, blurred vision, nerve pain in the face, ringing in the ears or hearing problems, pins and needles or numbness in the legs, feet, arms or hands, muscle pain, loss of memory and difficulty in concentrating.

“The good news is that MS is manageable. Symptoms differ in severity from individual to individual. There are drugs that lessen and control specific symptoms plus physical therapies and practical or psychological techniques. Some people experience what's called remissions and relapses. These are periods when their symptoms disappear or get worse. For others, their symptoms are there all the time. Mobility equipment, such as a wheelchair or a specially adapted car, can give back some sense of independence to those with more severe MS.

“It is therefore vital that we pay tribute to the work carried out by the Multiple Sclerosis Society in helping thousands of people with multiple sclerosis across Scotland. It must also be noted that there remain serious shortcomings in treatment and support for multiple sclerosis in Scotland. The Scottish Executive should therefore develop a national standard of care for people with multiple sclerosis to ensure that levels of treatment and support are the same regardless of where in Scotland they live.”