North East MSP demands funding for Scots with neurological conditions
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AN MSP for the North East has urged the Scottish Government to dedicate a £2.3 million fund to support Scots with neurological conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson's, MS and cerebral palsy.
MSPs, at a Holyrood members' business debate last night, heard that the Scottish Government has a £4.5 million fund to support a 'framework for action' up to 2025.
However, half of the fund remains unspent and it is unlikely that the rest will be spent before that date.
Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, led the debate and urged public health minister Maree Todd to commit the remaining portion of the fund to supporting people with neurological conditions as the number of people waiting for treatment is increasing in Scotland.
Data from the Neurological Alliance of Scotland shows that funding per ME patient in Scotland currently stands at just £1 a year.
There are no ME or chronic fatigue syndrome specialist consultants in Scotland and only one specialist nurse.
In the north east, there are five NHS consultants based at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary which cover Grampian, Moray, Orkney and Shetland.
Meanwhile, constituents in the Aberdeenshire West constituency currently have to travel to Dundee for treatment with some electing to use private care due to lengthy waiting lists.
“I thank members who were present for the debate and those who supported my calls for this crucial funding to go to neurological care," Mr Burnett said.
“We need specialists in place to deal with these patients before 2025, we need funding for research and we need reliable data to be compiled into this growing gulf between funding and patient numbers.
“The Minister has confirmed the remaining action framework money isn't going elsewhere, and the Scottish Government has heard the lack of resources available is unacceptable for those with neurological, often terminal, illnesses. We will now await detail on dates and destinations for this cash.
“The Minister said she wanted to spend the money with ‘the greatest impact’. Meanwhile funding for research has nosedived by more than £13m over the last decade.
"A greater impact is being felt now by those who face having to go private, or waiting in silence for treatment that isn’t coming any time soon.”
Health minister Maree Todd confirmed that £2.3 million is still available and that the money will be spent to have the "greatest impact" on care.
