Multiple Sclerosis Society Website - Welcome to the MS Society

New report from the Coalition on Charging - Charging into Poverty
The MS Society is among 18 major organisations to back a new report published today, which reveals that rising care charges are putting older and disabled people at risk of not being able to afford to eat, heat, wash or get essential support.
Download the report on social care charges (3005 kb)
Find out more about the Society's work on social care

MS Society responds to the review of social care eligibility criteria
The MS Society has responded to the review of eligibility criteria being conducted by the Commission for Social care Inspection. The response identifies problems with the current system and what principles should be the basis of any reform.
Read a summary of our key points
Download the MS Society's full response (161 kb)
MS Society calls for Government action on prescription charges
In July 2007, the Government made a commitment to launch a public consultation on the review of prescription charges in England. Currently, we are still waiting for the consultation which, while initially expected last autumn, has yet to be published. Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the MS Society, has signed a letter published in the Times with the heads of 14 of the country’s leading healthcare and disability charities calling on the Government to re-consider its position and publish its consultation

MS Week 2008 parliamentary reception
The MS Society's centrepiece to its activities during MS Week 2008 was a reception in the Houses of Parliament. The theme of the event was reforming social care for adults with long-term conditions. The main speakers were Gavin Croft and his wife Karen Saville who talked about their experience of using individual budgets.
View pictures of the parliamentary reception

MS Society responds to Strategic Review of Department of Health Third Sector Funding. The Department of Health provides funding to some third sector based work and they are currently reviewing the processes and priorities they use to do this. The MS Society attended a Department of Health meeting and have responded to the consultation. In our response we emphasised the importance of ensuring that the Compact is honoured by government. The Compact is a national agreement between the government and the voluntary sector which includes undertakings from both parties relating to funding.
Read the response (126 kb)

MS Society responds to Labour manifesto planning The MS Society advised the Labour Party of points of importance for improving the lives of people affected by MS, as part of the party’s manifesto planning. At the end of 2007, the Society had attended a Partnership in Power meeting with the minister Anne McGuire MP. At the meeting and in our written response we focused on the importance of developing personalised care for people with MS and improving support for their carers.
Read the response(145 kb)

Participate in research (deadline 29 February 2008)
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs are carrying out research on direct payments. They would like to interview people receiving direct payments and have PAYE schemes in place and/or their carers. People interviewed will receive a thank you payment of £45. If you are receiving Direct Payments and you are interested in taking part in this research, please get in touch with your contact details:
Leave a message on 020 8566 0569
Email: ForumWH@aol.com
Write to forum at 18 Lower Boston Road, London W7 2NR
MS Society publishes report into childhood MS
Based on the outcomes of the childhood MS workshop held in November, a report, Paediatric Multiple Sclerosis, has been produced by the MS Society. The report contains key recommendations on how the Society can work with Government to push the issue up the agenda and contains full summaries of the lectures and workshops that took place during the day.
Download the report (321 kb)
Welfare reform - how will it affect you
The policy and campaigns team have published a briefing on how the reforms to Incapacity Benefit are likely to impact on people with MS.
Read the briefing
Find out more about welfare reform

MS Society meets with Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson
MS Society chief executive, Simon Gillespie, and director of policy and research, Jayne Spink, have met with Alan Johnson to raise issues of importance to people affected by MS.
Read more

MS Society responds to consultation on proposed changes to the drug tariff for continence products
The Society expresses concerns that the proposed price cuts could reduce the availability of some expensive, specialist products to people with MS and emphasised the importance of specialist nurse visits in supporting the use of incontinence products.
Download the response (119 kb)

MS Society holds workshop on childhood MS
The MS Society has held an information and discussion day to learn more about childhood MS, bringing together professionals in paediatric MS and affected families for a groundbreaking event in London.
Read more

MS Society responds to MHRA consultation
The MS Society has responded to a consultation on the future of the body that regulates medicines, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Download the response(126 kb)

MS Society publishes consultation response to proposals for a Single Equality Act
The Government is proposing to change the legislation surrounding disability discrimination. It is planning to incorporate all the existing anti-discrimination acts into the Single Equality Act.
Download the consultation response(179 kb)

MS Society holds summit with Ivan Lewis on specialist nurses
A summit has been held with Ivan Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Care Services and the Chief Nursing Officer, Christine Beasley, to discuss specialist nurses. A joint briefing paper was submitted before the event by the MS Society, the Parkinson’s Disease Society, Epilepsy Action and the Royal College of Nursing. The minister agreed to the production of a report which would highlight the role of specialist nurse to local commissioners.
Download the joint briefing paper (190 kb)

Policy and campaigns news and events