Advanced MS Champion to provide vital care for people living with MS

THE MS Trust and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have announced they have collaborated to appoint a new Advanced MS Champion (AMSC). Sarah Watson took up the role last month and will provide much-needed support for people affected by advanced multiple sclerosis across Leeds.

The AMSC role was created as part of the MS Trust Advanced MS Champion Programme which places MS specialists in areas of greatest need. When people reach a more advanced stage of MS, they may no longer qualify for disease-modifying drugs, leading to a potential disconnect with their MS service. This leaves them reliant on family and friends for their care. An AMSCs role is to reconnect with those living with advanced MS, whilst addressing and co-ordinating their complex care needs.

The initial Advanced MS Champion pilot scheme ran across six hospital sites and returned impactful results:

• The AMSC role saved on average 52 hospital admissions per site, per year, saving each NHS site £465,376 annually.
• The pilot also reported saving an average of 403 emergency bed days per site, 91 appointments for MS Specialist Nurses and 115 GP appointments.
• Establishing an AMSC within an NHS Trust’s MS team helped to free up capacity and provide more care to people with MS in the community.
• Full details can be found here Advanced MS Champion pilot results

Sarah Watson brings a wealth of experience to the role. She is a Neuro Physio and has worked with the Leeds MS team for many years. She has also been trained by the MS Trust Foundation Module.

Sarah is looking forward to making an impact on people living with advanced MS in Leeds, she said of the opportunity:

“I’m really excited to have started working in the Advanced MS Champion role. I’m getting to know patients and their families or carers, and hopefully improving their quality of life.  Being able to see people at home will make a big difference to the support that the MS service in Leeds can offer.”

Gale Metcalfe, Lead MS Nurse at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said of the appointment:

“Here at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, we are beyond excited to have Sarah Watson join our MS Specialist Team as an Advanced MS Champion. Sarah brings with her a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience. Sarah will utilise her expertise to ensure our MS patients with complex needs and vulnerabilities, experience improved access/support to our/local community services and ensure equity of care to all those who need it.” 

 Lucy Taylor, CEO, of MS Trust said:

“We are delighted to be expanding our Advanced MS Champion Programme into the Leeds area. So many people living with advanced MS have already benefited from the joined-up approach this role supports and we know Sarah Watson will significantly improve the lives of people with advanced MS in her region.”