Source MS Trust:

NICE has recommended Extavia, but rejected Copaxone, Avonex, Betaferon, Plegridy and Rebif in its preliminary appraisal of MS drugs. The MS Trust has responded to NICE’s consultation in the strongest possible terms.

On 20 December 2017 NICE published(link is external) its preliminary decision on the use of Copaxone and the five beta interferon drugs (Avonex, Betaferon, Extavia, Plegridy and Rebif) by the NHS in England. It is not yet clear what implications this will have in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

NICE has recommended the following:

Extavia is recommended as a treatment for people with relapsing remitting MS or secondary progressive MS with continued relapses
Copaxone, Avonex, Betaferon, Plegridy and Rebif are not recommended
Anyone already taking one of the drugs will not be affected by this guidance and can continue without change until they and their neurologist consider it appropriate to stop.

NICE has acknowledged that all six drugs are equally effective at reducing the number of relapses and slowing down disability progression. The decision to approve Extavia and not the other five drugs is based on the cost of the drugs; Copaxone and the other beta interferons are more expensive than Extavia.

If you are already taking one of these drugs, you will not be affected and can continue without change.   

Source MS Trust: 

We often focus solely on our physical health but looking after our mental health is also vital to our sense of wellbeing. Jo Johnson, a consultant neuropsychologist with a special interest in MS, introduces practical steps you can take to improve and maintain your mental wellbeing.

“Most of us spend a lot of time caught up in our heads – regretting the past, fearing the future or just trying to manage the challenges of the day. Getting hooked up into our heads causes stress but it also can mean that many moments of pleasure pass by unnoticed because we aren’t paying attention”  Find out more here.

Source MS Society:

Ocrelizumab has been approved as the first licensed treatment for some people with primary progressive MS in the UK.

Recently recommended by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), today the European Commission approved the licence.

UK regulators will now decide whether ocrelizumab should be available on the NHS.

Who can get ocrelizumab?

• The conditions of the licence mean ocrelizumab (brand name Ocrevus) can only be prescribed for people with early primary progressive MS. This means:
• people who have evidence of inflammatory activity identified through an MRI scan
• Other factors that will be taken into consideration are:
• how long they’ve lived with MS symptoms
• their level of disability

Read more here.

European Commission Approves Ocrevus to Treat RRMS, PPMS Throughout EU

MS-UK Telephone Counselling Service MS-UK Counselling was established following consultation with people who had multiple sclerosis (MS), who said that a counselling service would be their choice as a new service.

Conversations with clients have already shown that they do not want to feel a burden to their friends or families by talking to them about their MS. They value speaking not only with counsellors but also with counsellors who have specialised MS training.

Since launching our service in October 2017, we have seen a great deal of interest, and clients are already starting to tell us of the benefit that counselling is having on their lives. There is no fixed fee to access the service. However, any contributions towards sessions will help sustain the service in the long term. MS-UK Counselling is open to people aged 18 or over who have a diagnosis of MS. It is the only service of its kind available in the UK. Sessions are delivered over the telephone, making the service accessible to all. Counsellors do not give advice but help people to explore their experiences so that they can find their own way forward.

Our counselling service is focussed on helping people understand themselves in light of their MS and explore its emotional impact on their lives. MS-UK counsellors are BACP registered or accredited with knowledge of MS and its impact on mental wellbeing. There is an initial 45 minute assessment session, followed by weekly sessions which last 50 minutes. Each client is guaranteed six sessions but could receive further sessions if circumstances allow. People living with MS can register for the service individually or they can ask a health professional to make a referral. Further information is available on our website at www.ms-uk.org/counselling where referral forms can be downloaded or completed online.

If you have any questions or would like leaflets to be sent to your centre, please email us at counselling@ms-uk.org.