Latest news with #MSAwarenessWeek
Pembrokeshire Herald
07-05-2025
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Award-winning online prehab programme transforms surgery preparation
A MILFORD HAVEN mum has become the first NHS patient in the UK to be treated with a new drug to prevent relapses of multiple sclerosis (MS). The newly approved medication, ublituximab, is given through an intravenous (IV) infusion and used to help treat relapses of MS. Compared to other treatments, the drug can be given much faster through an IV infusion, allowing more patients to be treated sooner. MS, a lifelong condition, happens when a person's immune system attacks their brain and spinal cord. The immune system creates cells that attack and kill viruses in the body but for those with MS, the cells attack the nerves instead. This week, Monday 28th April to Sunday 4th May marks MS Awareness Week. Fiona Creelie, from Milford Haven, was the first patient to be treated with the new drug at the Jill Rowe Neurology Ambulatory Unit at Morriston Hospital in Swansea. 'I started experiencing pins and needles and sharp shooting pains in my face in September,' the 35-year-old said. 'They initially thought it was trigeminal neuralgia, which is sudden, severe facial pain. 'In November, I started to get the same sensations down my right arm, so I went to A&E and had an MRI scan and lots of other tests and then was referred to Morriston Hospital.' The mum-of-one only officially received her diagnosis of MS and just two weeks later received her first IV treatment of the new drug. Fiona added: 'I was offered a selection of three drugs, but I picked this one because it fitted in with our family life. 'This treatment will be once every six months for just an hour each time, so it was the best fit for me. 'It's a bit crazy to have been the first person to receive the treatment but it's also really exciting.' With the new treatment able to be given much quicker, it will help to reduce the time patients wait for treatment. Dr Owen Pearson, consultant neurologist at Morriston Hospital, said: 'The drug itself is a new version of an already approved drug, but the advantage is that it's given faster, through an IV infusion. 'It allows us to treat more patients per day and that allows us to shorten the waiting time for treatment. 'It is a highly effective treatment which helps to stop focal inflammation, which is new lesions appearing on an MRI, or having new relapses of MS. 'The unit was starting to operate above capacity so the introduction of this drug will help with that. 'Clinical trials for the drug were done in other centres in the UK, including Cardiff, and it has recently been approved for use on the NHS. 'Being able to offer it so quickly to our patients in Swansea Bay involves a lot of working together with the pharmacy department. 'We have a dedicated clinical pharmacist within our team which allows us to deliver new treatments like this to our patients.' Charles-Henry Her, the team's clinical pharmacist, added: 'The consultants are really proactive in finding out about these new drugs and then they provide me with all of the information I need. 'I learn about the new drugs and how they work and make sure our systems are ready for us to introduce them.' Around 2,200 MS patients are supported in Swansea Bay, with the service seeing patients from Machynlleth, in Powys, right across to Cowbridge, in the Vale of Glamorgan. Dr Gillian Ingram, consultant neurologist, said: 'The fact that the treatment is much shorter will allow more MS patients to come through. 'It is also beneficial for patients to have a choice of treatment, so they can choose the option that's right for them. 'There are always new developments in treatments for MS and it is really nice to keep Wales at the forefront of that.' Alexandra Strong, Jill Rowe Neurology Ambulatory Unit manager, said: 'It is exciting for both patients and our unit to have another treatment available for MS, and it was exciting for us to be the first to give the treatment in the NHS. 'It is another option for patients to help improve their treatment and health. 'It will allow more flexibility for patients as it will make it much easier to fit in with their lifestyle, while it will also allow us to be more flexible with the treatment we can offer too.'
Pembrokeshire Herald
07-05-2025
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Criminal behaviour and ‘atmosphere of fear' at Wales' largest hospital
A MILFORD HAVEN mum has become the first NHS patient in the UK to be treated with a new drug to prevent relapses of multiple sclerosis (MS). The newly approved medication, ublituximab, is given through an intravenous (IV) infusion and used to help treat relapses of MS. Compared to other treatments, the drug can be given much faster through an IV infusion, allowing more patients to be treated sooner. MS, a lifelong condition, happens when a person's immune system attacks their brain and spinal cord. The immune system creates cells that attack and kill viruses in the body but for those with MS, the cells attack the nerves instead. This week, Monday 28th April to Sunday 4th May marks MS Awareness Week. Fiona Creelie, from Milford Haven, was the first patient to be treated with the new drug at the Jill Rowe Neurology Ambulatory Unit at Morriston Hospital in Swansea. 'I started experiencing pins and needles and sharp shooting pains in my face in September,' the 35-year-old said. 'They initially thought it was trigeminal neuralgia, which is sudden, severe facial pain. 'In November, I started to get the same sensations down my right arm, so I went to A&E and had an MRI scan and lots of other tests and then was referred to Morriston Hospital.' The mum-of-one only officially received her diagnosis of MS and just two weeks later received her first IV treatment of the new drug. Fiona added: 'I was offered a selection of three drugs, but I picked this one because it fitted in with our family life. 'This treatment will be once every six months for just an hour each time, so it was the best fit for me. 'It's a bit crazy to have been the first person to receive the treatment but it's also really exciting.' With the new treatment able to be given much quicker, it will help to reduce the time patients wait for treatment. Dr Owen Pearson, consultant neurologist at Morriston Hospital, said: 'The drug itself is a new version of an already approved drug, but the advantage is that it's given faster, through an IV infusion. 'It allows us to treat more patients per day and that allows us to shorten the waiting time for treatment. 'It is a highly effective treatment which helps to stop focal inflammation, which is new lesions appearing on an MRI, or having new relapses of MS. 'The unit was starting to operate above capacity so the introduction of this drug will help with that. 'Clinical trials for the drug were done in other centres in the UK, including Cardiff, and it has recently been approved for use on the NHS. 'Being able to offer it so quickly to our patients in Swansea Bay involves a lot of working together with the pharmacy department. 'We have a dedicated clinical pharmacist within our team which allows us to deliver new treatments like this to our patients.' Charles-Henry Her, the team's clinical pharmacist, added: 'The consultants are really proactive in finding out about these new drugs and then they provide me with all of the information I need. 'I learn about the new drugs and how they work and make sure our systems are ready for us to introduce them.' Around 2,200 MS patients are supported in Swansea Bay, with the service seeing patients from Machynlleth, in Powys, right across to Cowbridge, in the Vale of Glamorgan. Dr Gillian Ingram, consultant neurologist, said: 'The fact that the treatment is much shorter will allow more MS patients to come through. 'It is also beneficial for patients to have a choice of treatment, so they can choose the option that's right for them. 'There are always new developments in treatments for MS and it is really nice to keep Wales at the forefront of that.' Alexandra Strong, Jill Rowe Neurology Ambulatory Unit manager, said: 'It is exciting for both patients and our unit to have another treatment available for MS, and it was exciting for us to be the first to give the treatment in the NHS. 'It is another option for patients to help improve their treatment and health. 'It will allow more flexibility for patients as it will make it much easier to fit in with their lifestyle, while it will also allow us to be more flexible with the treatment we can offer too.'
Pembrokeshire Herald
07-05-2025
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
New pubic defibrillators at local hospital sites
A MILFORD HAVEN mum has become the first NHS patient in the UK to be treated with a new drug to prevent relapses of multiple sclerosis (MS). The newly approved medication, ublituximab, is given through an intravenous (IV) infusion and used to help treat relapses of MS. Compared to other treatments, the drug can be given much faster through an IV infusion, allowing more patients to be treated sooner. MS, a lifelong condition, happens when a person's immune system attacks their brain and spinal cord. The immune system creates cells that attack and kill viruses in the body but for those with MS, the cells attack the nerves instead. This week, Monday 28th April to Sunday 4th May marks MS Awareness Week. Fiona Creelie, from Milford Haven, was the first patient to be treated with the new drug at the Jill Rowe Neurology Ambulatory Unit at Morriston Hospital in Swansea. 'I started experiencing pins and needles and sharp shooting pains in my face in September,' the 35-year-old said. 'They initially thought it was trigeminal neuralgia, which is sudden, severe facial pain. 'In November, I started to get the same sensations down my right arm, so I went to A&E and had an MRI scan and lots of other tests and then was referred to Morriston Hospital.' The mum-of-one only officially received her diagnosis of MS and just two weeks later received her first IV treatment of the new drug. Fiona added: 'I was offered a selection of three drugs, but I picked this one because it fitted in with our family life. 'This treatment will be once every six months for just an hour each time, so it was the best fit for me. 'It's a bit crazy to have been the first person to receive the treatment but it's also really exciting.' With the new treatment able to be given much quicker, it will help to reduce the time patients wait for treatment. Dr Owen Pearson, consultant neurologist at Morriston Hospital, said: 'The drug itself is a new version of an already approved drug, but the advantage is that it's given faster, through an IV infusion. 'It allows us to treat more patients per day and that allows us to shorten the waiting time for treatment. 'It is a highly effective treatment which helps to stop focal inflammation, which is new lesions appearing on an MRI, or having new relapses of MS. 'The unit was starting to operate above capacity so the introduction of this drug will help with that. 'Clinical trials for the drug were done in other centres in the UK, including Cardiff, and it has recently been approved for use on the NHS. 'Being able to offer it so quickly to our patients in Swansea Bay involves a lot of working together with the pharmacy department. 'We have a dedicated clinical pharmacist within our team which allows us to deliver new treatments like this to our patients.' Charles-Henry Her, the team's clinical pharmacist, added: 'The consultants are really proactive in finding out about these new drugs and then they provide me with all of the information I need. 'I learn about the new drugs and how they work and make sure our systems are ready for us to introduce them.' Around 2,200 MS patients are supported in Swansea Bay, with the service seeing patients from Machynlleth, in Powys, right across to Cowbridge, in the Vale of Glamorgan. Dr Gillian Ingram, consultant neurologist, said: 'The fact that the treatment is much shorter will allow more MS patients to come through. 'It is also beneficial for patients to have a choice of treatment, so they can choose the option that's right for them. 'There are always new developments in treatments for MS and it is really nice to keep Wales at the forefront of that.' Alexandra Strong, Jill Rowe Neurology Ambulatory Unit manager, said: 'It is exciting for both patients and our unit to have another treatment available for MS, and it was exciting for us to be the first to give the treatment in the NHS. 'It is another option for patients to help improve their treatment and health. 'It will allow more flexibility for patients as it will make it much easier to fit in with their lifestyle, while it will also allow us to be more flexible with the treatment we can offer too.'
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Pride meant I didn't discuss my MS diagnosis'
A former carpenter is urging people to be honest with friends and relatives about their multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnoses as part of a week to raise awareness. Stewart Gould, 78, from Ditcheat, in Somerset, was diagnosed with the neurological condition 16 years ago, but initially tried to pass off his symptoms as a "slight limp" due to a leg injury. He told BBC Somerset: "It was pride, pure and simple. Nothing else. I just didn't want anyone to see me as less than the person I had been." But he says since opening up about the disease, no-one has treated him any differently. He has been speaking out as part of MS Awareness Week - a campaign run by a coalition of MS charities. More news stories for Somerset Listen to the latest news for Somerset MS is an incurable autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly targets the protective covering of nerve fibres, including those in the brain and spinal cord, disrupting the flow of nerve signals. It can have many different symptoms, including declining mobility and chronic pain. Mr Gould said: "No one thinks less of me for having MS. People are a little bit taken a back when I tell them I have MS, but they're not condescending. It's always treated with kindness." The condition forced him to retire from his carpentry business earlier than planed, but he now devotes a lot of his time to beekeeping. Explaining why he is supporting the campaign, Mr Gould said: "MS conversations vary a lot. Some people have no idea at all what MS is, and some get it confused with other conditions. "People know it's debilitating but they don't know how and they don't know why - it's about making other people aware because there is no cure, at present." He added: "It's not easy to talk about but if you do it and get it over and done with, it's over and done with. You don't have to do it again." The charities behind MS Awareness Week are the MS Society, MS Trust, MS Together, MS-UK, the Neuro Therapy Network, Overcoming MS and Talks with MS. Amy Woolf, chief executive of MS-UK, said: "Starting a conversation about your MS can feel daunting, and it's all too easy to feel isolated as a result." She added: "This year's campaign highlights the times people have had the courage speak up about their MS. "Not every conversation is easy, but every story shared helps others understand the realities of life with MS." Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Woman with MS runs into marathon record history NHS to offer take-at-home tablet for MS Service launched to help people living with MS NHS - Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Somerset man with MS joining efforts to raise awareness
A former carpenter is urging people to be honest with friends and relatives about their multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnoses as part of a week to raise Gould, 78, from Ditcheat, in Somerset, was diagnosed with the neurological condition 16 years ago, but initially tried to pass off his symptoms as a "slight limp" due to a leg told BBC Somerset: "It was pride, pure and simple. Nothing else. I just didn't want anyone to see me as less than the person I had been."But he says since opening up about the disease, no-one has treated him any differently. He has been speaking out as part of MS Awareness Week - a campaign run by a coalition of MS charities. MS is an incurable autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly targets the protective covering of nerve fibres, including those in the brain and spinal cord, disrupting the flow of nerve can have many different symptoms, including declining mobility and chronic Gould said: "No one thinks less of me for having MS. People are a little bit taken a back when I tell them I have MS, but they're not condescending. It's always treated with kindness." 'It's not easy' The condition forced him to retire from his carpentry business earlier than planed, but he now devotes a lot of his time to why he is supporting the campaign, Mr Gould said: "MS conversations vary a lot. Some people have no idea at all what MS is, and some get it confused with other conditions."People know it's debilitating but they don't know how and they don't know why - it's about making other people aware because there is no cure, at present."He added: "It's not easy to talk about but if you do it and get it over and done with, it's over and done with. You don't have to do it again." The charities behind MS Awareness Week are the MS Society, MS Trust, MS Together, MS-UK, the Neuro Therapy Network, Overcoming MS and Talks with Woolf, chief executive of MS-UK, said: "Starting a conversation about your MS can feel daunting, and it's all too easy to feel isolated as a result."She added: "This year's campaign highlights the times people have had the courage speak up about their MS."Not every conversation is easy, but every story shared helps others understand the realities of life with MS."
