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| Mike wearing the new MS Society tracksuit, on sale at MS Life from the JD Sports stand. |
We've got less than three weeks to go and already more than 1,800 people have signed up. If you’re thinking about coming to Manchester don’t leave it too much longer!
The MS Life programme is shaping up really well and we’re now just putting the finishing touches to make it really first class.
One of the highlights of Saturday will be Whose Risk? Whose Life?, our keynote debate in the Great Northern Hall at 4.30pm, chaired by ITV newsreader Nicholas Owen. We're looking at two areas – scientific risk, particularly around drugs and social care risk,around people affected by MS being able to lead the life they want and not the totally “risk free” life that providers of care may want. I will be joining Nicholas on stage with others, including Nancy Law, from the US National MS Society, to tackle a couple of thorny issues. We're very keen for you to get involved, so read on.
On the science front, increasing the arsenal of MS drugs may mean including more aggressive therapies, which can carry an increased risk. Where should the line be drawn between effective treatments and higher risks? And should those decisions be left to the regulators? Experts including Professor Alan Thompson, Dr Alasdair Coles, Dr Barbara Harvey and Dr Paul Bull will be having their say.
As for social care risk, many people with MS are reliant on social care services for their personal day-to-day care, but care providers can be risk-averse because of fear of litigation. This means some people with MS find themselves unable to take risks they might want to, whether in simple day-to-day tasks like going to the shops. In different but equally important circumstances, I know a few sailors, climbers, parachutists and pilots among the MS community who’ve struggled to get insurance. Why should people with MS get penalised twice – once by the disease, and a second time by others, who however well -meaning, may prevent them living their life to its full potential. David Hinchliffe, chair of the House of Commons health select committee 1997-2005, David Brindle, from our media partner Society Guardian, and MS Society volunteers Stuart Nixon and Claire Norman will join me in airing their opinions.
If you want to ask the panel about either of these subjects, email your ideas to comms@mssociety.org.uk and someone will be in touch. I look forward to seeing you there.
