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News file

Last minute place available for 2012 London Marathon

07 February 2012

One of our 2012 London Marathon runners has just pulled out with injury and so a last minute place has become available on our team!

Nurse Specialist wins chance to run in the Olympic Park

03 February 2012

A member of the MS Trust's London Marathon team has won a competition to take part in a run in the Olympic Park.

Welfare bill changes reversed

02 February 2012

The government has managed to overturn the amendments to the welfare changes added by the House of Lords.

Encouraging stem cell results

02 February 2012

Results from a small study published in Lancet Neurology suggest that stem cells may protect nerves from MS related damage.

The facts about MS

01 February 2012

Accurate information about MS is important for people with MS, their family and friends but also for the wider understanding of this neurological condition.

Access to fampridine which can help walking for some people with MS

01 February 2012

Fampridine is licensed for adult patients with MS who have a walking disability (defined as scoring 4-7 on the Expanded Disability Status Scale) and can only be prescribed by a specialist doctor experienced in the management of MS. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is a widely used measure of neurological disability.

Special offers when you shop with us this Valentine's Day!

01 February 2012

Take the hassle out of buying your Valentine's Day gifts by ordering online through our partner shops. The MS Trust will receive a percentage of every sale at no extra cost to you!

MS nurse wins top award

31 January 2012

The MS Trust would like to congratulate Debbie Quinn, MS specialist nurse based at Isebrook Hospital in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, who has been awarded the honoured title of Queen's Nurse from the Queen's Nursing Institute.

Clinical trial for secondary progressive MS

27 January 2012

A phase III trial, Ascend, involving 850 people in 15 countries will investigate the effectiveness of natalizumab (Tysabri) in secondary progressive MS.

All beta interferon drugs now licensed for CIS

26 January 2012

The European Union has approved interferon beta 1a (Rebif) for the treatment of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). The move brings Rebif into line with the other beta interferon drugs (Avonex, Betaferon and Extavia) and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone).

European Medicines Agency to review Gilenya (fingolimod)

20 January 2012

The European Medicines Agency has begun a formal review of the benefits and risks of fingolimod following reports of serious heart problems after the first dose

A better deal for neurology

19 January 2012

The Neurological Alliance is asking people to raise concerns about the state of neurology services in England with their MP.

Twitter campaign has significant influence on welfare reform process

18 January 2012

Social media has become a powerful tool for disability campaigners

'Neurology disease time bomb' facing the NHS says Neurological Alliance

17 January 2012

The Neurological Alliance is an umbrella organisation representing 70 local and national charities who support people living with a neurological condition and includes the MS Trust, Parkinson's UK, Epilepsy Action and the Motor Neurone Disease Association. The comments follow publication of the report Services for people with neurological conditions by the National Audit Office last month.

Uro-Neurologist Professor Clare Fowler receives Honour

13 January 2012

A significant figure in research into bladder problems for people with MS has been given a CBE for her services to Uro-Neurology in this year's New Years Honours

Firategrast effective at reducing relapse rates

13 January 2012

Higher doses of firategrast produced a 49% reduction in the number of active lesions visible on MRI scans.

Lords challenge welfare benefit changes

12 January 2012

House of Lords have voted in favour of amendments to The Welfare Reform Bill.

Bladder problems helped by pelvic floor exercises

11 January 2012

New research suggests simple exercises make a big difference

More money for disabled facilities grants in England

10 January 2012

The Government has announced £20 million additional funding for Disabled Facilities Grants in England for the financial year 2011-2012, which ends this April. The money is specifically to help more people remain in their own homes for longer. What's not known yet is how the funding will be allocated among the various councils in England.

Integrating health and social care

05 January 2012

A report by the King's Fund argues that integrating health and social care services is essential to improve support for people with long-term conditions.

Government urged to make positive changes to social care provision

03 January 2012

In an open letter to the Telegraph more than 60 government advisers, charity directors and independent experts called for cross-party support to secure "urgent, fundamental and lasting reform" to social care.

Teriflunomide is as effective as interferon beta 1a in reducing relapse rate

20 December 2011

A study comparing teriflunomide with beta interferon 1a (Rebif) has found that the two drugs had a similar effect on relapse rates and that teriflunomide was safe and generally well tolerated. The two year TENERE study involved 324 people with relapsing remitting MS taking one of two doses of teriflunomide or Rebif.

Calls for vitamin D fortification of food in Scotland

20 December 2011

George Ebers, the Oxford researcher involved in work looking at the effect of vitamin D on genes, has called on the Scottish government to fortify essential foods with vitamin D to tackle the country's high rate of MS and avoid possible future legal action by people who go on to get the condition.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) given green light by Devon and Cornwall NHS

19 December 2011

The Peninsula Commissioning Priorities Group has announced that, following a review of evidence, functional electrical stimulation (FES) should be available for people with foot drop caused by damage to the brain or spinal cord whose walking has not improved with other options such as ankle supports.

Implementation of neurological services remains patchy

16 December 2011

Implementation of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Long-Term Conditions has been poor and lacked clear leadership, coordination, and monitoring information, according to a report published by the National Audit Office.

Your shopping has raised over £2,000!

15 December 2011

Since we launched our affiliate shopping programme a year ago, you have helped to raise £2,043.81 for the MS Trust by purchasing your groceries, gifts, travel and more through our online partner shops.

Investigation of cause of death of person treated with fingolimod (Gilenya)

13 December 2011

A 59 year old person with MS has died within 24 hours of their first dose of fingolimod (Gilenya), a disease modifying drug. Is is not clear whether the death was related to the treatment. It is known that fingolimod can temporarily slow the heart rate and people are therefore carefully monitored for the first six hours after initiation of the therapy.

More evidence for the link between vitamin D and MS

09 December 2011

Researchers have identified a link between a rare gene which causes people to have lower levels of vitamin D and having MS

Treatment of clinically isolated syndrome with interferon beta 1a reduces the risk of conversion to MS

06 December 2011

Results from the REFLEX study (REbif FLEXible dosing in early MS) show that interferon beta 1a delayed clincal relapse and subclinical disease activity in people with clinically isolated syndrome whether given once or three times a week. An earlier study (ETOMS) found that 22mg of interferon beta 1a once a week was effective in delaying the diagnosis of MS, this study compared the effects of two dosing regimes with placebo.

The legal duty to prescribe disease modifying drugs under the Risk-sharing Scheme

02 December 2011

The Department of Health has published a letter to remind NHS bodies of their obligation to provide disease modifying therapies to eligible people with MS under the Risk-sharing Scheme.

NHS priorities may provide benefit for people with MS

02 December 2011

The Department of Health has published its new NHS Operating Framework outlining performance targets and financial requirements in England for the year from April 2012. The MS Trust welcomes the fact that the Framework focuses on several issues that could potentially benefit people with MS

Latest draft guidance from NICE on oral drug Fingolimod

01 December 2011

The MS Trust continues to be disappointed that the latest draft guidance issued today by NICE proposes that fingolimod should not be made automatically available to people with multiple sclerosis on the NHS. Fingolimod is licensed under the Novartis owned trade name of Gilenya.

Talking about MS

29 November 2011

Cathy and Andrew talk about their experiences of "coming out" with a diagnosis of MS, including talking to friends and deciding whether to tell employers, in this Radio 4 broadcast.

Spasticity and spasms webcast

23 November 2011

A webcast on one of the common symptoms of multiple sclerosis has just been launched on the MS Trust website.

Future Forum advises how the NHS should work in 2012-2013

22 November 2011

On 17 November, the NHS Future Forum published a letter to the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley. This letter requests priority is given to a number of areas in the Department of Health's Operating Framework for the NHS 2012-13, the document that will set out the structural plan for next year.

York hospital launches Health Passport initiative for people with neurological conditions

18 November 2011

A pilot health passport scheme will improve the hospital experience for thousands of people with neurological conditions including MS.

Trial results of alemtuzumab in relapsing remitting MS very positive

16 November 2011

The Phase III randomised controlled trial CARE- MS II (Comparison of Alemtuzumab and Rebif Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis) found that relapse rate and sustained worsening of disability were both reduced in people that received alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) compared to those receiving beta interferon 1a (Rebif).

15th MS Trust conference underway

13 November 2011

The largest UK conference for health professionals working with people with MS is being hosted by the MS Trust from 13-15 November.

Will personal health budgets really give people greater choice and control of personalised health care?

11 November 2011

Angela Coulter of the King's Fund questions whether personal budgets are the best way to give people control of their own health care.

Nurse Specialist to run 2012 London Marathon

09 November 2011

Watch Sharon Grainger's fantastic video about why she is running for the MS Trust

Natalizumab treatment for children with MS

09 November 2011

A study of 35 children under the age of 18 treated for 23 months with natalizumab (Tysabri) found that the treatment was safe, well tolerated and effective in suppressing disease activity.

Update on our appeal to support MS nurses

14 October 2011

Thanks to you, we are making progress

Do you have a ballot place in the 2012 London Marathon?

05 October 2011

If so, we would love you to join our team!

A huge thank you to all our London Marathon runners!

18 April 2011

A huge thank you to all our London Marathon runners!