Mum-of-two with MS demands Government ‘neuro taskforce’ after 19,000 sign petition

A mum who said her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis has robbed her of being able to do the things she feels a mother should do is backing a charity’s call to urge the Government to establish a “neuro taskforce”.

Mother-of-two Natalie Busari, 36, from south Wimbledon, was at the height of her career in web design in 2015, when she began experiencing horrific eye pains, blindness and muscle weakness throughout her body.

She was referred to neurology just before discovering she was pregnant, and was finally diagnosed months later with the neurological condition relapsing-remitting MS in November 2016.

She said: “We had to move quickly and choose highly effective treatment because my MS lesions were spreading.

“I even had to stop breastfeeding my son because the medical treatment would harm him.”

Natalie recently underwent a successful stem cell transplant which essentially means she has a new immune system and, although she must receive all childhood vaccinations again, the transplant has given her body some time to heal.

Unfortunately, stem cell transplants do not work for everyone with MS.

As a founder of non-profit patient organisation The Nerve of My Multiple Sclerosis, Natalie is supporting The Neurological Alliance’s campaign to bring about much-needed change for people affected by neurological conditions like MS.

She added: “I’ve had to come to terms with using a Zimmer frame and different aids to get me through the day. I rely on family to support me, like helping me to get dressed in the morning and my mum even batch makes my food.

“It has really affected my self-esteem and my confidence. I’m not able to do things that I feel a mother should do – it just makes me feel bad.”

The Neurological Alliance handed over a 19,000-strong petition to the Department of Health and Social Care yesterday.

It calls on the Government to back the one-in-six people affected by neurological conditions in the UK, and calls for a UK-wide neuro taskforce to spearhead vital improvements in care and support.

The petition was a result of a survey by The Neurological Alliance completed by more than 8,500 people affected by neurological conditions.

It exposed significant shortfalls in mental well-being support, delays to accessing vital treatment and care and a lack of information and support at diagnosis.

Georgina Carr, chief executive of The Neurological Alliance, said: “Despite affecting millions of people and costing billions of pounds, neurological conditions are too often at the back of the queue.

“More than half of people who shared their experiences had experienced delays to routine specialist appointments in the past year, and a majority hadn’t been asked about their mental well-being by a healthcare professional in the past three years.

“The message from people affected by neurological conditions is clear – this must change.”

The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment.

Pictured top: Mother-of-two Natalie Busari, 36, from south Wimbledon (Picture: The Neurological Alliance)