Healthy Prions Protect Nerves

Article suggested by one of our MS Members that might be of interest.

http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100124/full/news.2010.29.html

Your time to have your say on support and care services

Forum Meeting here at the MS Therapy Centre on Friday 29th January 2010, 10.30 a.m.

Please RSVP to pippa@bmstc.org if you would like to attend:

Reading Borough Council wants to improve the quality of care and support services for people with physical disabilities, sensory needs and neurological conditions in Reading and to also ensure that we can meet the increasing demand for these services in the future.

We are consulting with service users, carers and our partners in health and the voluntary sector to identify service priorities which will form the basis of service improvement plans and provision over the next 5 years.

Please come along to a session on Friday 29th January 2010 at 10.30am in the meeting room at the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre to have your say. A drop in session will also be available to give advice about the Carers Opportunities Fund and Direct Payments.

Kind regards

Angela Todd
Strategy Team
Housing and Community Care
Reading Borough Council
Direct Dial: 0118 937 4114
Internal: 74114

MS Society - Research Matters, Information Talk

Date: Monday 15 March 2010, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Location: Spirit centre Conference Venue, Farnham road, Slough SL1 4UT.

For details please see http://www.mssociety.org.uk/news_events/events/research_matters.html

Book your place online at www.mssociety.org.uk/events or by contacting the Information team, on 020 8438 0799 or infoteam@mssociety.org.uk.

Armelle Vieira

Local Information Services Co-ordinator

Multiple Sclerosis Society

372 Edgware Road

London NW2 6ND

For further details see

Has MS Affected Your Work?

From the MS Trust Website:

The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) is carrying out a global survey to find out more about how having MS impacts on employment.

http://www.mstrust.org.uk/news/article.jsp?id=3454

Hope for MS Pill after Cladribine and Fingolimod Trials

From the BBC Website:

"Oral drugs to treat multiple sclerosis could become available in 2011 after promising results in two trials"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8470138.stm

CCSVI Article

This was sent to me by one of our members to share:

"Researcher's labour of love leads to MS breakthrough

New way of thinking about debilitating disease has yielded stunning new treatments – but MS societies urge sufferers to be cautious before experimenting"

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/researchers-labour-of-love-leads-to-ms-breakthrough/article1372414/

UK Stem Cell Foundation & MS Society Stem Cell Research Collaboration

News item published on the MS Society website:

Stem cell research in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been given a much-needed shot in the arm thanks to a partnership between the UK's largest charity supporting people affected by the condition and the UK's only charity dedicated to supporting stem cell research.

For more info see: http://www.mssociety.org.uk/news_events/news/press_releases/ukscf_mss.html

New! - MS-CCSVI-UK is on Facebook

A new Facebook group composed of people with MS, their friends and families, committed to raising awareness of CCSVI in the UK

www.ms-ccsvi-uk.org

New! MS Specialist Occupational Therapist Drop-In Clinic at BMSTC!

Hello everyone, My name is Shirley Bampton I am the Multiple Sclerosis Specialist Occupational Therapist at Reading Borough Council. My post has been jointly funded between the MS Society and Reading Borough Council for three years. After this time Reading Borough Council will fund the position.

I will be starting a specialist MS Drop-In Clinic at the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre offering General OT Advice, Carers Assessments, along with Information & Support.

Time 10.00 to 12.00 on 20th, 26th, 28th January and the 1st of February.

You can call the Centre on 0118 901 6000 to make an appointment or simply just drop in!

If you would like to contact me my details are as follows:

Email - shirley.bampton@reading.gov.uk or telephone 0118 9312277. Meanwhile, if you need to make a referral you can do this via the website or by telephoning 0118 9390900 and ask for Response and Assessment for adults.

Very best wishes

Shirley
Multiple Sclerosis Specialist Occupational Therapist, Reading Social Services, Whitley Office, 268 Northumberland Avenue, Whitley, Reading, Berks RG2 7PJ Tel 0118 9312277 Fax 0118 9310682 Email: shirley.bampton@reading.gov.uk

New Saturday Oxygen Therapy Service

We will be launching a new 9.30 a.m. 33' Oxygen Therapy service starting on Saturday 16th January 2010. This will be an entirely volunteer led service with thanks to Malcolm Cook and Keith and Liz turner who have kindly offered their time.

This service has been set up primarily to accommodate people who are working and unable to attend the midweek sessions. Unfortunately we will not have staff on site to deal with transfers, so will only be able to accept people who can walk into the chamber.

If you would like to make this your regular session please email pippa@bmstc.org or call me on 0118 901 6000 and I will add you to the regular list. Alternatively you can contact our reception team to make your booking.

Best wishes

Pippa

Henley MS Support Group Launches 28thJanuary 2010!

The Henley MS Support Group is an exciting new partnership project between the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre & The Henley & Districts Branch of the MS Society.

The new service will open its doors on Thursday 28th January, and will be based at the Thames Valley Headway unit, Brunner Hall, Greys Road, Henley-on-Thames every Thursday. We will hold a press launch in February.

Initially a MS specialist Neuro-Physiotherapy, FES Clinic and Counselling service will be offered. We hope to extend the service to include other therapies such Chiropody and Massage. There will also be a social area available for people with MS, their friends and family in which to socialise and exchange ideas and information. For further information click here. For enquiries and bookings please email pippa@bmstc.org or call 0118 901 6000.

LDN Petitioning the EU Parliament

We had over 13,000 signatures on the petition to the UK government, but instead of just waiting for something that might never happen anyway, we now are petitioning the EU parliament. The petition summary is as follows:

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is reputed to be a revolutionary drug for treatment of numerous diseases. Because naltrexone has been without patent protection for many years, no pharmaceutical company will bear the expense of the large clinical trials necessary for approval of LDN. The petitioner appeals to the Parliament to make funds available to conduct the relevant trials.

Please sign the petition, it’s easy and straight forward, but if asked for a donation, ignore it, as this is the petition site asking, and not LDNNow. Thanks. There are some inspiring comments and I would urge all to read them and leave some comments from yourselves, to inspire others.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ldnnow/

www.LDNNow.com

Many thanks

Silvia

Life in the Freezer is Over.....For Now!

We are finally getting back to resuming our normal service at long last!

Once again please accept our apologies for the disruption and thank you for your understanding!

Best wishes

Pip

Thursday 14th January - Centre Open But Access Difficult!

We are open for a limited service of Physiotherapy and Oxygen Therapy. It is worth calling to check appointments with any of our visiting Therapists on the day of your appointment to check if they are able to make it in.

We cleared an area of the car park which is unfortunately snowbound again! Access remains difficult along August End and in our car park but we will do our best to remain open for anyone wishing to attend.

Wednesday 13th January - Open but Access Still Difficult!

We are expecting to be able to offer Physiotherapy, Oxygen Therapy and Chiropody on Wednesday. Access is still difficult along August End, we have cleared some of the Centre car park but parking spaces are limited.

Tuesday 12th January - Open for Skeleton Service

We will be open for a skeleton service of Physiotherapy and Oxygen. Please to be aware that access to the Centre is extremely difficult as you can see from this photo! You may find it easier to park further down August End and walk up.

There is another warning for heavy snowfall on Tuesday evening, we may therefore be forced to suspend the Tuesday evening Oxygen Therapy session - we will keep our eye on the forecast throughout the day. We would encourage you if you are booked for the 5.30 session to try and attend during the day if you can.

Again please accept our apologies for the inconvenience caused.

Best wishes

Pip

Monday 11th January - Sorry Centre is Closed Again!

Due to the ongoing severe weather conditions and impassable access along August End, the Centre will remain closed on Monday 11th January. We will keep you posted on the blog with updates each day.

Please accept our apologies for the continued disruption to our services.

Pip

National MS Society flags CCSVI hypothesis a top research priority in 2010

From the MS Trust Website:

As 2009 draws to a close, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has taken stock of some of the research highlights of the year that was and is looking ahead to 2010.

Among its priorities for 2010 is a call for grant proposals to investigate the potential link between chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and multiple sclerosis (MS). The society has issued an international call for grant applications to look at the CCSVI hypothesis in MS.

"Working with MS Societies around the world, an international panel will be convened to conduct a joint expedited review of the grant applications submitted in order to ensure a coordinated, strategic approach to funding the best research examining the CCSVI hypothesis in 2010," a statement from the NMSS notes.

http://www.mstrust.org.uk/news/recentstories/article.jsp?id=3415