Southern health chiefs vow to improve muscular services

Tissue degenerates in conditions like muscular dystrophy

Health bosses in the South have vowed to invest in new services for muscle disease patients after criticism.

South Central Strategic Health Authority (SCHA) was one of four areas called to give evidence to MPs for not funding dedicated advisors.

It comes after the parliamentary Walton Report criticised services nationwide.

SCHA, which provides services for Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Buckinghamshire, said it would fund two new advisors.

Cross-bench peer Lord Walton, a founder of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, was one of the key members of the group and said he was "appalled" by much of the evidence heard.

'Ludicrous situation'

Wheelchair-bound Roger Day, from Reading, Berkshire, suffers from muscular dystrophy.

He said: "There are 4,000 people in our region with muscular conditions.

"Unlike other regions all of our advice and support comes through the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

"For the health authority not to fund it and rely on charitable contributions is a ludicrous situation."

The charity has had to withdraw funding for the only dedicated advisor in the region.

Dr Sally Nelson, from SCHA, said: "We were invited to give evidence and we were very willing to do that.

"We were asked what we were doing, what proposals we had in response to the recommendations in the Walton Report.

"We have decided to make available funds to replace the post funded by the charity and also in the interest in fairness to establish a similar post in the southern area of our region in Southampton."