Multiple Sclerosis (Hansard, 25 October 1984)

§ Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what specialist facilities are available to people with multiple sclerosis for telephone counselling by trained counsellors who have personal experience of the disease; where they are situated; what action he is taking to develop such facilities; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what specialist facilities are available to people with multiple sclerosis for neuro physiotherapy; where they are situated; what action he is taking to develop such facilities; and if he will make a statement;

(3) what specialist facilities are available to people with multiple sclerosis for nutritional advice; where they are situated; what action he is taking to develop such facilities; and if he will make a statement;

(4) what specialist facilities are available to people with multiple sclerosis for group therapy; where they are situated; what action he is taking to develop such facilities; and if he will make a statement;

(5) what specialist facilities are available to people with multiple sclerosis for hyperbaric oxygen therapy; where they are situated; what action he is taking to develop such facilities; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Chris Patten

The information is as follows:

(i) telephone counselling,, provided by trained counsellors from the Multiple Sclerosis Action Group Northern Ireland and located in Bangor, County Down;
(ii) physiotherapy facilities for neurological patients, provided at the Royal Victoria and Claremont street hospitals, Belfast and for long stay patients at Musgrave park hospital, Belfast and Thompson house, Lisburn. Patients can, if necessary, receive follow-up treatment in other hospitals throughout the Province;
(iii) nutritional advice, given by consultant neurologists and dieticians based at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast;
(iv) group therapy activities, available at day centres and workshops for the disabled and through the Multiple Sclerosis Society in Belfast;
(v) a hyperbaric oxygen chamber is located at Craigavon area hospital, but provison of this form of treatment is not currently available, pending the results of clinical trials.

The development of all these services is constantly under review and provision is increased depending on need, and the availability of resources.