This week is MS Week and the MS Society is calling on the government to provide a personalised care plan to every person in the UK living with MS.

According to a survey of over 10,000 adults with MS, only 40% of people eligible for drugs to combat the disease are actually taking them.

The MS Society blames a lack of information and access to specialists for patients missing out on drugs which can reduce the frequency of multiple sclerosis attacks and in some cases slow the progression of the disease.

The report also showed that there were big differences in MS treatment and access to MS specialists across the four nations of the UK, with someone in Northern Ireland being twice as likely to have access to the drugs as someone in Wales.

The MS Society also found that adults with MS were twice as likely to be taking the appropriate drugs if they had access to a specialist MS nurse.

This is one reason why this year’s MS Awareness Week is to celebrate MS nurses and raise awareness of the need for more specialist MS nurses.

Nobody’s symptoms and experience of MS will be the same, which means that experienced, highly trained nurses are needed to help sufferers. MS Awareness Week 2013 is all about raising awareness and funds to secure more specialist MS nurses across the UK.

Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease which affects approximately 100,000 adults in the UK. Most sufferers are diagnosed as young adults, between the ages of 20 and 40, but it can also affect older and younger people.

For more information about MS, or to make a donation during MS week, visit the MS Trust website: http://www.mstrust.org.uk/donate-online/nurses.jsp

MS, Holidays and Travel insurance

A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis should not mean an end to holidays abroad, but you will need to consult your doctor or specialist nurse to help you decide what types of holidays and destinations are going to be right for you.

Whatever type of holiday you decide to take, obtaining travel insurance cover for multiple sclerosis is vital. To ensure that your MS is covered by your travel insurance you must declare it when you buy your policy.

Goodtogoinsurance.com can provide MS travel insurance cover online or by phone, once you have told us about your MS we will ask you a short series of multiple choice questions to help us assess the severity of your MS — it’s very easy and you won’t need to provide a doctor’s certificate.

Our travel insurance offers cover for up to £10 million emergency medical costs, access to a 24 hour medical assistance line and cover for your mobility aids.

Get a quote for travel insurance >>