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Local health trusts in Derbyshire have admitted that services for people with muscle disease are inadequate.
Mark wrote to the Primary Care Trusts in Derby and Derbyshire following the publication of the Walton Report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Muscular Dystrophy, which found that services were patchy across the country. Mark took part in the hearings for this report. The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign also has an ongoing campaign called "Building on the Foundations" which highlights postcode lottery.
In addition, the recently-formed East Midlands Muscle Group, which is supported by the charity and is made up of patients, carers and clinicians, told Mark that patients were suffering from a lack of support services such as physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.
Muscle disease describes a large group of conditions which affect either the muscles, such as those in the arms and legs or heart and lungs, or the nerves which control the muscles. Different conditions affect different muscles.
Most conditions, like muscular dystrophy, are progressive, causing the muscles to gradually weaken over time. People’s mobility is affected and most conditions lead to some sort of disability. The severity of conditions and how they affect individuals varies greatly from person to person.
Derbyshire PCT admitted in its response that services such as physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, specialist nurse and psychology were "sometimes not totally adequate". Derby PCT said: "We can confirm that physiotherapy and hydrotherapy services are provided, but still on a limited basis".
The trusts also said that neurosciences, which includes muscle disease, is a priority for specialised services planning for the next year.
Mark said: "We all recognise the pressures the NHS faces and that tough choices are always required. However these are services for people with very serious conditions where evidence suggests that better practice is followed in some parts of the country than others. The research also shows that better treatments and support are possible. I am pleased to note that strengthening specialised services in the neurological conditions is seen as a priority. However physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, which are important for the quality of life of sufferers, is limited and patchy. We can and must do better and I will be pursuing this further in the time I remain an MP.”
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Jan 14, 2009 - Care for muscle disease patients
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