I’m living proof that a good care package can prolong life
MND sufferer backing campaign
A campaigner with motor neurone disease is backing calls for improvements to care for those with neurological problems.
Calum Ferguson, who was diagnosed with MND in 2010 when he was 46, is supporting Sue Ryder’s Rewrite the Future campaign.
The father-of-three, from Dunblane, continued to work for a further two years until he became wheelchair bound and was transferred to Strathcarron hospice nine months later in December 2012 and was not expected to live for more than six weeks.
He was “sent home to die” but had a care package put in place from Stirling Council and NHS Forth Valley.
And due to round the clock care, the provision of vital equipment and physiotherapy, Calum’s condition has stabilised and he is looking forward to spending another Christmas with his family.
He said: “I am living proof that having a good care package in place prolongs life.
“A life is a precious gift and due to the lack of care provisions many families are having less time to spend with their loved ones.
“I see myself as one of the few fortunate ones as there are many MND sufferers out there who, due to the postcode lottery, have limited access to much of this care and equipment.
“But this needs to change – everyone with a neurological condition should be entitled to far better care packages so that they can make the most of the life they have left.
“Most MND patients don’t have long – the average life expectancy after diagnosis is two years.
“In the early days following diagnosis most sufferers are primarily cared for by family members but as sufferers’ symptoms progress, external care becomes essential.
“This is why Sue Ryder’s campaign is so important.
“We need everyone with neurological conditions to have far better access to care so that they can be looked after at home and live life as normally as possible, as opposed to sitting in a hospital or being transferred to a hospice to die.”
Sue Ryder’s second Rewrite the Future report, published this year, built on the first report with a view to establishing how much progress had been made and what difference the integration of health and social care was making to the lives of people with neurological conditions.
It found that while progress was being made at a national level, not much had changed on the ground for people suffering with neurological conditions.
The charity’s Scottish director Pamela Mackenzie explained: “Integration of health and social care, so far, has done little to improve services on the ground for people with neurological conditions.
“Indeed, they are at risk of being left behind as reforms continue.
“Sue Ryder welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to improving neurological care and believes the action plan, together with new standards for neurological care, has the potential to be a major step forwards in improving care.”
Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford, who led a debate on the issue in the Scottish Parliament last week,is pleased that the Government will address the situation.
He added: “There is no doubt that care for people with neurological conditions is falling short.
“So I’m delighted the Scottish Government has made clear it is here for the long haul and will do everything in its power to address the situation and make sure that people get the care and support they need so that they do not feel written off.”