AQW 9853/17-22
Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry
Tabled Date: 06/11/2020
Answered On Date: 04/03/2021
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what steps have been taken to mitigate the effects of shielding, lockdown or isolation on people diagnosed with MS; and what measures have been put in place to meet the demand for rehabilitation therapies such as physiotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer:
I am aware of the potential impact of lockdown on the physical and mental wellbeing of our population, particularly those with underlying health conditions including MS. Revised guidance to those who are clinically extremely vulnerable has recently been issued by the Chief Medical Officer and published on the NI Direct website, and encourages people to “not stay permanently indoors”, and “to continue to go outside for exercise, provided they observe social distancing when they do so.” In addition, a mental health and resilience work stream has been created as part of the Mental Health Response Plan to ensure a coherent, cross-departmental and cross-sectoral strategic approach. One of the themes of the plan is the need to respond using evidence-based support and interventions. Work is also under way to develop a regional proposal to support people who continue to experience long-term health effects as a result of COVID-19 infection. Given the potentially wide range of physical, psychological, mental health symptoms involved, the initial focus is likely to be on a regionally delivered multidisciplinary assessment service, with the aim of delivering equitable geographical access and pathways to the appropriate Health and Social Care services. In the meantime, Health and Social Care Trusts across Northern Ireland continue to provide services to MS patients including physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and dietetic treatment. Services are delivered taking into consideration individual patient choice, assessed need and clinical risk via the use of telephone assessments, video-conferencing or through face-to-face contact where deemed clinically appropriate. There has been some reduced capacity for outpatient physiotherapy appointments due to social distancing measures. Patients can be referred directly by their GP, consultant or other healthcare giver, to their local Allied Health Professional team. Intense or longer term in-patient support can be provided at the Neurology Unit, Musgrave Park Hospital. The unit can offer support to patients who have had recent and significant deterioration in their functional abilities, which would most commonly apply to those with MS, but also those with other conditions with issues around spasticity management. In the longer term, the Regional Review of Neurology Services will consider how to improve care pathways for people with long term neurological conditions, including MS, through better access to clinical nurse specialists, dedicated advanced practitioners and physiotherapy to aid the patient’s rehabilitation journey.
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