SPECIALIST Multiple sclerosis nurses at Airedale Hospital are using MS Awareness week to encourage people diagnosed with this condition to get in touch.

The nurses are keen to see patients who have not yet benefited from their service.

Marie Duckworth is the MS specialist nurse in the Community Specialist Nursing Team, having recently taken over from retired nurse Jane Pearce.

Marie said: “There may be patients who've been diagnosed for many years but aren't aware of the service we offer.

"We’d like them to get in touch so we can explain how we can help.”

MS is a neurological condition and is caused when a person's immune system does not work properly. Symptoms include fatigue, vision problems or difficulties with walking, but MS is different for everyone.

Around 100,000 people in the UK have MS and most get diagnosed between the ages of 20 and their late 60s. This year's MS Awareness week runs from April 23 to 29.

Mark Darlow, one of the people who uses the MS service at Airedale, said: "I live my life normally but when I have crises or problems I can contact the nurse and very quickly things get kicked into action.

"Last year I was really struggling with walking and I hit a low because I thought I was going to have to be in a wheelchair.

"Straight away I just texted the nurse and I was stunned by the speed of the response.

"I quickly saw the consultant and straight away he put me on steroids and gave instructions on what to do, everything was explained clearly to me. It’s so easy and accessible.”

Marie Duckworth, said: “We communicate with our patients by text, e-mail or phone and we do visits and clinics in the community.

"If someone rings us with symptoms then we work very closely with the neurologist and we have some fast track slots in his clinic, so if someone needs it we can usually get them in within the week to see them for an assessment.”

She emphasised that MS is a long term condition and its symptoms can fluctuate significantly over time.

“We get to know these patients from diagnosis and throughout their condition," she said.

"Because of the complexity of MS and the unpredictability and variability, it means we can finish a period of care and then the next day a patient could ring up with something totally different and that’s how quickly things can change.

"We can get quick access. We have shared care with the GP, and we can keep monitoring them. Plus we offer regular reviews and nurse led clinics six monthly or 12 monthly.”

People can get in touch with the service by e-mailing marie.duckworth@anhst.nhs.uk or by calling 01535 294552.