A referral service for patients requiring MS Specialist Physiotherapy was available locally for two years and was very popular, providing real benefits to patients who used it, but funding could not be found to continue it after April 2010.
Steve outlined forthcoming changes to NHS commissioning services, if the bill currently going through parliament is passed. He described the way in which MS patients and GPs could request MS Specialist Physiotherapy in the new structure, via the new GP Commissioning Consortia (GPCC). PCTs are already being dissolved, but in the meantime until the GPCC is formed, Steve explained that there will be an interim organisation serving this area, and he offered to write to its chief executive as a result of meeting the MS Society and Hobbs today.
There is a weekly physiotherapy group for local people with MS, which is run at Hobbs by two Neurological Physiotherapists who provide an option for members of this group to have a one-to-one session for half an hour before the main group starts. It is funded by the MS Society Winchester & District branch.
Steve said: "I was delighted to be able to take the time to visit Hobbs Rehabilitation today, just another example of a fantastic organisation right here in Winchester. It was really useful to meet everyone, and we had a really good chat about how things look like they will pan out in the future."
Pictured: Steve with Sue, Natasha, Sandra, Nicky and Pat, at Hobbs Rehabilitation.
More information ...
MS Society Winchester & District Branch website: www.mssociety.org.uk/winchester
Hobbs Rehabilitation website: www.hobbsrehabilitation.co.uk