HAMPSHIRE multiple sclerosis patients now have better access to specialist treatment which can reduce the number of relapses they have.

The Wessex Neurological Centre, based at Southampton General Hospital, has been one of the leading centres to implement a government scheme giving sufferers access to life changing disease modifying therapies.

Launched two years ago, the Department of Health project was set up to ensure people with MS were given access to treatments and to provide a way for the NHS to collect evidence about the long-term cost-effectiveness of such treatments.

About one in 800 of the 2.8 million people across the Wessex region may have MS.

Before the scheme began, only a few were being treated.

Now, after assessing more than 500 patients, there are more than 80 in the local area on treatment - and many more are being helped through general support services.

These include three specialist MS nurses who provide patient training on how to manage symptoms and self-administer treatment.

The centre has also increased administrative support, introduced extra clinics and a new booking system to improve the efficiency of the scheme.