Trust holds education day for newly-diagnosed sufferers of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Created 27/04/2010 14:34

Health services around the country are currently marking Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. MS is a lifelong disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, causing symptoms such as visual disturbances, mobility problems and many others. MS is usually diagnosed when people are in their twenties and thirties, and it is believed to affect around three times as many women as men. There is presently no cure for the disease.

Katherine Robbins is a MS specialist nurse based at Chase Farm Hospital who joined the Trust in May 2009. She works closely with Heather Wilson, a neurology consultant with a special interest in MS. In the run-up to MS awareness week, Katherine organised an education day for those who have recently been diagnosed with the disease. Attendees received advice on exercise and diet that can reduce the impact of the disease, heard about how to continue working from a Disability Employment Adviser, and listened to a speaker's personal perspective of how she has lived with the disease. 

Katherine is enjoying her role in caring for MS patients. "You build up quite close relationships with your patients because you see them from an early stage," she says. Asked about her hopes for the future, Katherine said: "I'd like to continue to build the service. As well as our first Education Day for the newly diagnosed, we have just purchased a bladder scanner. This summer we'll start a Tysabri infusion service. Patients currently have to travel to Royal Free Hospital for this, but from June they can receive it right here at Chase Farm Hospital."