Boat trip
Would you be interested in a boat trip? We had 2 trips last year and they were very successful and much enjoyed. If you are interested please let Sue know and she will try and organise something…….
Don’t miss out on donations for Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Oxfordshire!
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| Copy, paste and share You could raise BIG free donations including up to £150 for Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Oxfordshire when you use #easyfundraising to purchase insurance, broadband, mobile upgrades, ISAs or holidays. Booking.com, MoneySupermarket, SKY TV & Broadband, Carphone Warehouse, Scottish Friendly and many more will donate to us for FREE! Sign up here: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/omstc?&utm_medium=Email-share&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=save-and-raise&utm_term=CE741 |
MS Society webinar – New DMT Tool – 19 April
Choosing a Disease Modifying Treatment (DMT) can be daunting, whether you are newly diagnosed or changing treatment. There’s lots of information out there on DMTs and it can be difficult to read through and make the choice that’s right for you. The MS Society have developed their DMT Decision Making tool and in this session their facilitator will tell you a bit more about the tool. You’ll also get to hear from volunteers and find out how they made the decision of choosing their DMT and process they went through.
This new tool is for you if you live in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man and have:
- relapsing remitting MS
- some types of primary or secondary progressive MS
Date: Wednesday 19 April
Time: 6pm to 7pm
This session is organised by the national MS charity, the MS Society. You can find out more about them by visiting their website at www.mssociety.org.uk
The Octopus MS trial
Over the last few weeks there has been a lot of discussion about the Octopus MS research trial. It even made the BBC homepage.
But what is it about?
The Octopus trial will test drugs to help people with progressive MS. The MS Society has produced a short film explaining all about the trial.
Watch the MS Society video about the trial
The MS Society said on Twitter: ‘Our mega-trial for progressive MS – Octopus – has started recruitment at its first hospital site. This means the first few people with primary and secondary progressive MS have begun taking part.’
Find out more about this development and how you could take part here.
Here is what the MS Society say….
‘Octopus is a revolutionary trial that will transform the way we test treatments for progressive MS. A smarter way of testing potential treatments, it could deliver life-changing new treatments up to three times faster.
Octopus uses what’s called a multi-arm, multi-stage (MAMS) design – the first time this has even been done in MS.
MAMS trials make it possible to test new treatments up to three times faster by:
- Testing multiple drugs at once – and comparing them with a single control group.
- Using MRI to get an idea of whether a drug looks like it has potential, many months before we’d be able to see an effect of the drug on disability progression. Promising-looking drugs stay in the trial, with hundreds more people joining the existing participants. So what would normally be two consecutive trials are delivered in one.
- Adding the flexibility to drop drugs that don’t look promising, and slot in new drugs as they’re discovered.
Merging separate trials may sound obvious. But launching a MAMS trial for MS needs so many things to line up perfectly. From hospitals around the country equipped to be trial sites, to the incredibly complicated statistics that underpin the design.’
The MS Society has published a film on their Social Media with trial leader Professor Jeremy Chataway explaining how the Octopus trial will test treatments. Click on the links below to watch it.
MS Awareness Week is coming – share your story
24-30 April is MS Awareness Week when many of the national and local MS charities and organisations come together to raise awareness and share information. We know that together we can make more noise and raise more awareness of the impact MS can have.
This year the theme is Mental Health. Many people may be aware of the physical aspects of MS but there are many ways in which a diagnosis can affect mental health too.
Join the #MSMakesMe campaign and share your story
Help raise awareness of the reality of life with MS. During this year’s MS Awareness Week, MS charities will be talking about how MS makes you feel, think or act, whether you have MS yourself or care for someone who does. Does MS make you scream, feel brave, tired, positive, worried for the future, or hopeful? We know it’s different for everyone and we want to hear from you.
Covid booster vaccine available for most vulnerable
The NHS in England is launching a spring booster vaccine campaign against Covid-19 for people most at risk of serious illness from the disease.
Around five million are eligible, including people aged 75 and over, some people with weakened immune systems, and older residents in care homes.
From this week, older adults in care homes are expected to begin receiving their vaccines, given by visiting NHS teams.
Other eligible people will be able to receive jabs from mid-April.
Bookings for those appointments will open on Wednesday 5 April.
Millions of invitations will be sent through the NHS App, alongside texts messages and letters for those without the app or not actively using it.
To find out more, visit the BBC website
For Sale – Motoflex fully adjustable motorised bed
Motoflex fully adjustable motorised bed. Fully adjustable leg and upper body. Luxurious mattress with zipped fully washable cover. Ultra quiet motors. Easy to use controls. 2ft 6. French company, very expensive!! I have 2 of them. I can sell 1 or both together. Individual mattresses so each side can be operated independently. Both beds can clip together to make a kingsize. Belonged to my parents. Open to offers and can deliver locally.
Please contact Sue Doran, Centre Manager
Could you be eligible to save money on your broadband?
Broadband social tariffs are special discounted deals available for certain low-income customers. They’re generally cheaper than typical broadband tariffs, starting at just £12 per month. They also usually aren’t subject to price rises or exit fees.
Social tariffs are designed to act as a safety net for households that may otherwise struggle to afford broadband services. Research by the telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has shown that an estimated 4.2 million households in the UK are eligible but many people who are eligible do not know about the tariffs and so do not take up the offer.
You’re likely to be eligible for a social tariff if you receive a means-tested state benefit, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit or equivalents.
The exact requirements depend on the broadband provider in question – some only offer social tariffs to Universal Credit recipients, while others extend eligibility to those on Council Tax Support, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance.
Those who receive Guarantee Credit (a top-up to Pension Credit) are also usually eligible. Some providers also offer social tariffs to vulnerable households that receive non-means-tested benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment.
How to find out more
There is lots of information on the Which website
You can also find out more on the Money Saving Expert website
Stress and MS, MS Society webinar – 13 April
We know some people with MS often find stress impacts their condition in some way. It’s impossible to avoid it completely, but stress affects a body’s ability to fight disease, which is why it’s important to learn ways to manage it as much as possible.
This webinar will feature Dr. Rachel Hunter from Swansea University. Rachel is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, passionate about sharing lifestyle approaches to illness with others. She will also be joined by volunteer Steve Rose, a trained psychotherapist. The panel will be sharing the importance of recognising your stress and learning ways to manage it.
Date: Thursday 13 April
Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm
This session is organised by the national MS charity, the MS Society. You can find out more about them by visiting their website at www.mssociety.org.uk
