Educational sessions help to inform and inspire people living with MS

People with a lifelong neurological condition have been inspired to return to work and try new hobbies thanks to educational sessions run by a specialist team.

The sessions are for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and provide a chance to understand more about the condition and its management,

There are two types of sessions – one for people with a new diagnosis and another for more established patients, called ‘living well with MS’.

Pictured: Members of staff from the MS team and Jill Rowe Neurology Ambulatory Unit.

The newly diagnosed information sessions are delivered as part of a collaborative project between Morriston Hospital’s specialist MS team, the MS Society and Swansea University.

Staff provide information, advice and support to MS patients and their families and carers at and around the time of their diagnosis.

As well as educating patients about the condition, the sessions also provide the opportunity to meet and get to know the MS team.

The living well with MS sessions are similar and allow staff to discuss advances in treatments, research, symptom management and any support patients feel they need.

They also provide an opportunity for people to speak to others with similar experiences to them.

Anita Hicks, from Cresselly in Pembrokeshire, attended a living well with MS session after being diagnosed with the condition 20 years ago.

She continued to work part-time as a nurse until her recent retirement in September.

“Before I was diagnosed, I was really tired and had tingling in my legs,” the 66-year-old said.

“I went to the doctors and had some tests and a CT scan and eventually I was told it was MS, and I was transferred to the team in Morriston.

“I am a part-time wheelchair user, and MS affects my mobility and general wellbeing.

“The MS team asked me to come along to one of the living well with MS sessions, so my husband and I went and found it thought provoking and extremely useful.

“During the session, the MS Society had a stand and were asking about activities that we always wished we had taken up.”

Anita joked that she had always wanted to learn how to surf but is now doing exactly that after being signposted to adaptive lessons.

Pictured: Anita has taking up adaptive surfing lessons.

She added: “They told me about the surf school in Pembrokeshire which provided adaptive lessons.

“They arranged a session for me, and it was well organised and gave me an amazing opportunity.

“I had a glorious time and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m going to have more sessions.”

The living well with MS sessions were introduced to help existing patients up to date with the latest information about the condition.

Dr Owen Pearson, consultant neurologist at Morriston Hospital, said: “We have been running the newly diagnosed sessions for many years but MS is a constantly evolving area.

“We were conscious that patients with existing MS were being left behind in their information needs.

“The concept of the living well sessions is to educate patients with an established diagnosis already with the latest information about MS.

“Patients are brought up to date with the latest MS care and research. For example, we now know smoking is harmful and increases their risk of disability and that quitting changes their disease course.

“This group of patients often haven’t been treated with MS disease modifying drugs as they wouldn’t have been eligible.

“Therefore, the importance of lifestyle interventions, to keep them as well as they can be, is vital to their ongoing care.”

The educational sessions for newly diagnosed patients run in a similar way but help people to gain more of an understanding of the condition and ask any questions they may have.

Dr Gillian Ingram, consultant neurologist, said: “People with a new diagnosis of a life changing condition, such as MS, experience a huge range of emotions and uncertainty regarding their future at a time when they are often physically unwell and having to make important treatment decisions.

“The aim of the sessions is to help patients, and their families develop an in-depth understanding of their new diagnosis.

“Patients have the time to get to know the whole MS team, with staff available throughout the sessions to answer any queries and provide support.

“A clinical psychologist with an interest in MS from Swansea University also attends to provide a personal perspective on coping with a life changing diagnosis.”

Before attending, patients are asked if they have specific questions so the sessions can be tailored to cover certain topics.

Various members of the MS team do talks on a range of topics including understanding MS, managing symptoms, staying active, treatments, research and developments and more.

“Listening to patients helps us to understand what they need to know at that point in their diagnostic journey,” Gillian added.

“Attendees can ask questions in a relaxed environment, or they have the option to chat in private with a member of the team.

“We offer a friendly, caring and honest attitude which we hope puts patients at ease, while also providing support and information to give them the confidence to take an active role in their self-management.”

Helen Owen, lead MS nurse specialist, said: “The information days take a lot of organisation from the whole team, which includes consultants, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists and administrative staff.

“That is without the support of other specialist services including smoking cessation, the research team, Parasol service and many more.

“People tell us that they benefit from meeting other people in a similar position to them. There has even been one patient who was inspired to return to work as they had gained confidence from the session.

“To receive feedback from people who attended the day to say they felt empowered by the information and support they received which enabled them to make positive changes in their lives is amazing.

“It proves that running the sessions is worthwhile.”