Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have missed out on potentially important medication, according to an ombudsman report. Aneurin Bevan health board in south-east Wales had been offered funding for fampridine, which can improve walking ability in some MS sufferers, since December 2019. However, the PSW for Wales found that as many as 500 MS patients had missed out on the treatment in that area. Rachelle Ledsam, a patient from Caerphilly county who had waited since 2019 for the medication, expressed anger at her lack of access.
Fampridine is licensed for use and has shown effectiveness. The NHS has similarly acknowledged this, as it has been available for use in England for several years. Despite this, Aneurin Bevan health board did not offer the treatment, according to the PSW report. The ombudsman report found that patients had not been given the medication despite NHS Wales committing to offer new treatments within 60 days of approval.
The ombudsman ordered the health board to apologise to Ledsam and to establish a clear action plan with timeframes. Aneurin Bevan health board has said it accepts the finding and is working to meet the recommendations. Ledsam hopes to eventually receive the medication, which would greatly improve her quality of life and ease of movement.
The study into the lack of treatment for MS patients sets a worrying precedent. Flaws in the health service system are limiting access to necessary care for one of its most vulnerable patient populations. While efforts have been made to increase this treatment’s availability, the overriding problem is lack of access to treatment, which is also worrying given the recent high-level focus on the inadequacies of health care systems during the Covid-19 pandemic
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