MSPs’ growing concerns
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey MSP said she was“concerned”about the lack of an MS nurse covering Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
She also questioned the pay grade of the MS nurse in the region and the caseload they were expected to handle.
She said:“While I have been reassured that they are looking to recruit two nurses, with the second post initially funded by the MS Trust, this still leaves a gap in provision in South Lanarkshire until they are in place.
“However, the newly recruited nurses will be paid at band six, when MS Trust nurses across the UK are paid as band seven. In fact, NHS Lanarkshire is the only Scottish mainland NHS Board that does not employ band seven MS nurses.
“The previous MS nurse in Lanarkshire had a caseload of around 1100, when the MS Society say that a caseload of around 358 is more realistic.
“Having two nurses in the service will not be enough to meet the needs of people with MS in Lanarkshire, but it is, at least, an improvement.
“For MS nurses to have career progression, and for there to be effective succession planning in this field, health boards must look at their skill mix in these services to make them sustainable, and continue to be able to provide the service that those with MS deserve.”
Glasgow Labour MSP, James Kelly, said:“It’s shocking that in Lanarkshire there is only one MS nurse post, currently dealing with a caseload four times the recommended limit.
“MS patients require complex and specialist care and it is vital that the Scottish Government ensures there is adequate provision for health boards to be sufficiently resourced. This is a deeply concerning story and I will be working with Labour colleagues to raise with the Scottish Government further.”