Living with Multiple Sclerosis in Devon and Torbay
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Healthwatch Devon and Healthwatch Torbay undertook a project to look at the experience of people with multiple sclerosis accessing care after receiving a lot of feedback from this group. They undertook a survey and an online focus group, reaching 89 people.
Many participants described the diagnostic process as “stressful”, “complicated” or “difficult” with a wide variance of time taken from first reporting symptoms to receiving an MS diagnosis.
When asked about satisfaction with the time it took to be referred to a specialist and beginning treatment, 8 of 33 survey respondents (24.24%) reported being dissatisfied.
Most respondents found appointment times and locations convenient. Praise was given to individual staff and services.
Negative experiences included inadequate follow-up after diagnosis, difficulty navigating services and feeling uninformed or dismissed by professionals.