Norman Lamb MP supports fight to improve services for vulnerable patients

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 16th May 2008

"I commend the work of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign which is providing a national voice for my constituents affected by these rare conditions"

On Wednesday 14 May Norman Lamb, MP for North Norfolk, met with local campaigners from Norfolk at the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's Parliamentary Reception to lobby Government to improve specialist services for people with neuromuscular conditions.

At the reception the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign published Focus on Physio a report revealing that patients with chronic conditions are being denied access to ongoing physiotherapy by the NHS.

The report led by clinicians and physiotherapists found that for many patients with neuromuscular conditions, physiotherapy is essential in maintaining the best possible quality of life, for as long as possible.

However, physiotherapy is often restricted to patients where an improvement can be demonstrably measured by physiotherapists. Patients with progressive neuromuscular conditions fail to meet these criteria and are often refused physio on the NHS. They are then forced to pay for these services privately or go without.

Attending the reception, Norman Lamb MP said:

"I was delighted to meet with local campaigners. It is very disappointing that patients with chronic conditions are being denied ongoing physiotherapy on the NHS.

"I commend the work of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign which is providing a national voice for my constituents affected by these rare conditions.

"It is very important that the Department of Health recognise the specialist nature of the care needed by patients with neuromuscular conditions and ensure that such services are available to all patients, regardless of where they live."

It is estimated that 1 in 1,000 people in the constituency of North Norfolk are living with muscle disease. Norman has added his name to a House of Commons motion calling on the Government to recognise the specialist nature of neuromuscular services and to ensure improved standards of care for all patients with neuromuscular conditions.

Following a Freedom of Information request and a survey of patients, Building on the Foundations: Focus on Physio, reveals:

• many patients with neuromuscular conditions do not receive continuous, specialist physiotherapy or any physiotherapy at all; Two out of three PCTs fail to provide ongoing physiotherapy for patients where required;

• one in five NHS Trusts and PCTs fail to provide financial support to physiotherapists to attend training courses in neuromuscular conditions despite the NHS's commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD);

• almost two out of three Trusts say they do not have any physiotherapists with specific training in neuromuscular conditions;

• the situation is particularly difficult for young adults making the transition to adult services - their current physiotherapy is often immediately withdrawn as soon as they turn 18 years-old;

• specialist physiotherapy services are vulnerable where they rely on charitable sector funding.

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's report Focus on Physio is the second stage in the Building on the Foundations campaign, launched last December, calling for a specialist neuromuscular service across the UK.