Free Course for Carers
Dublin Neurological Institute are running a free course for carers of people with neurological conditions in September.
News
The Neurology Waiting Room
This week from the MS & Me archives series Willeke Van Eeckhoutte discusses people waiting, wondering, dreading, hoping from the Neurology waiting room.
Cannabis Access Programme - Update
Expert Reference Group developing clinical guidelines for the access programme
In February, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) released a report which recommended the establishment of an access programme for medicinal cannabis products for certain named conditions including spasticity associated with MS. MS Ireland cautiously welcomed the HPRA report, whilst still expressing concern that the efficacy, safety and quality of non-pharmaceutical products cannot be guaranteed. MS Ireland nonetheless recognises that many people with MS will welcome the opportunity to be able to legally access such products through the access programme, when it is established.
Since February, work has been ongoing to establish the programme. The Department of Health convened an Expert Reference Group, comprising of representation from the areas of Oncology, Palliative care, Anaesthesiology, General Practice, Adult Neurology, Paediatric Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis, Psychiatry, Pharmacy, Patients, Ethics, Health Technology Assessment and the Health Products Regulator.
The Expert Reference Group have been working on draft clinical guidance for the cannabis access programme. MS Ireland were invited to provide feedback on these guidelines. A summary of our response is below. MS Ireland will keep all our stakeholders updated on any further developments regarding the access programme.
Read the summary of our response here
MS, Smartphones and Apps
This week from the MS & Me archives series - Helen Farrell looks at her smartphone use...
How A Little Word Can Make All the Difference
This week from the MS & Me archives series - Lucina Russell discusses how words people use to speak about people with MS has an impact on our identity. There’s also mention of dating and road frontage!