Number of Motor Neurone Disease specialist nurses doubles in Scotland

By The Press Association20th July 2016News ScotlandMidwifery, MotorNeurone Disease, News Scotland, Nursing / Midwifery

The Scottish Government has doubled the number of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) clinical specialist nurses, Public Health Minster Aileen Campbell has said.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pledged to improve MND treatment following lobbying from those fighting the debilitating disease, including former political researcher Gordon Aikman (pictured) who was diagnosed in 2014.

Ms Campbell confirmed that the Scottish Government had delivered on the pledge in a written answer to SNP MSP Christina McKelvie.

She said: “Their number has increased from 5.6 whole time equivalent (WTE) to 12.9 WTE. MND specialist nurses have been paid centrally since April 2015.

“The Scottish Government supports medical research aimed at better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases including MND, with the goal of developing effective new treatments and diagnostic approaches.

“Through the Chief Scientist Office, the Scottish Government is currently co-funding a clinical academic fellowship with the charities MND Scotland and the MND Association.

“This project, which is due to report in 2018, is using state-of-the-art techniques to improve knowledge of how to best diagnose patients and to predict survival, thereby optimising the care patients receive.

“In addition, the Scottish Government has committed to funding three PhD studentships in MND. Discussions to identify key areas of research needed in MND are planned to help ensure these studentships have the maximum impact. These discussions will shape the research calls and inform funding requirements.”

Ms McKelvie said: “Continuing to fund research is vital, and working with specialist organisations like MND Scotland and the MND Association will undoubtedly help this work.

“I’m very much looking forward to seeing the academic fellowship and studentships develop and to learn of the ideas that come from the Scottish Government-funded research aimed at helping those suffering from MND, and to help us find a cure in the future.”