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FEATURES PAGE
MS Nurse—update
Report by Pamela Little
Sadly the Hertfordshire MS Therapy Centre’s bid for an MS Nurse has been put “on hold” for the November round of bidding from the MS Society’s MS Nurse Fund. But we must not despair.
I attended a meeting last week with representatives of the Health Authority, the Primary Care Groups, and the Therapy Centre. At that stage it seemed that they were on course for putting in a bid, with all the necessary background material researched and an excellent case put forward. The fly in the ointment (and isn’t it always?) was that the funding was still to be finalised and agreed. t turned out that it was impossible to sort this out and as the timescale was very short (the bid had to be “in” by 16th November) it was decided to put the bid on hold until the next round of applications with the MS Society which is in February. This gives the Health Authority and Primary Care Groups that bit more time to review their budget. I have to say that everyone concerned was very positive about the bid for the MS Nurse, and anxious
Beta Interferon - the battle goes on
The news we have been waiting for - and there is a a faint glimmer of hope , the following text has been taken from the MS Society's website.
NICE’s Appeal Panel has upheld appeals against NICE’s original decision on beta interferon's. NICE’s Appraisal Committee will now have to consider the issue again, taking into account the criticisms of its original appraisal made by the Appeal Panel.
The Appraisal Committee will consider the issue again in December, which means a final decision will probably be made public in January 2001.
We are pleased that NICE has been made to think again. But every week that the process goes on means more worry and stress for people with MS, and more people who will pass the point at which the drugs are useful. We cannot guarantee that NICE will recommend that beta-interferon's be made more widely available, we will be redoubling our efforts to get a good outcome
The text of the Society’s appeal and the appeal decision are on the Society’s website at www.mssociety.org.uk
It is worth noting that until NICE makes a final decision, health authorities and trusts must continue as they have done previously. While this is not good news for people in areas where beta interferon hasn’t been prescribed, in our areas, East & North Herts, where it has been prescribed for some time, it must continue to be prescribed under the same rules until NICE makes a decision