The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s New Advocacy Service

I’ve just recieved the press release below from the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

Muscle-wasting disease charity the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign will today formally launch its advocacy service, following a five-fold increase in reports of unjust, inconsistent and distressing treatment at the hands of local authorities and NHS primary care trusts.

Biting public sector cuts have seen an increasing number of people disabled by muscle-wasting disease facing compulsory residential care, inadequate home-care packages and waiting lists of several years for wheelchairs and home adaptations. The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, which has offered support on hundreds of cases in the past four years, has been forced to set up a dedicated service to deal with the mounting number of enquires.

Those whose cases are taken on will be able to access services including legal advice, liaison with local MPs and health professionals and help gaining support locally through the media.

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign says that it believes advocacy support from charities can foster better communication and a more thorough approach to cases by health and care services. The charity successfully intervened in the case of Matthew Leadbitter earlier this month, a 34-year-old man from the West Midlands with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, who was forced into residential care due to a refusal of Warwickshire Primary Care Trust to provide specialist care support for Matthew in his family home – despite such care being available in neighbouring counties.

Robert Meadowcroft, Chief Executive of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign said that an increasing postcode lottery on care provision could see charity campaigners overwhelmed by appeals for help:

“Mounting pressures on public service providers mean that our supporters are having to fight harder than ever to ensure that fair and thorough assessments of their needs are carried out. Our formal advocacy service is designed to make their voices heard, while providing information, case studies and research to support local and NHS authorities in finding workable solutions.”