New specialist nurse to support people with multiple sclerosis in Sunderland

Ashley Thomas has joined the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust as part of efforts to ensure everyone with MS has access to a specialist health professional.

The role is funded by the MS Trust, a charitable trust set up to support people impacted by the disease, which affects the brain and spinal chord.

Research conducted by the MS Trust recommends a specialist MS Nurse for every 315 people registered with an MS service. 

This is not the case in many areas of the country, and Ashley’s role is the first of two positions planned for the Sunderland area in the next 12 months.

The aim is to enhance the lives of people living with MS, and alleviate the workload of consultant neurologists, which will in turn reduce waiting times.

Ashley said: “I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to work within South Tyneside and Sunderland MS service.

“It is a speciality which I have always been very interested in and the current growth of the service is very exciting to be a part of. I hope to be an added source of support and guidance for people with MS in our locality.”

Ashley was born in Sunderland and has returned to the Trust after starting her nursing career at Sunderland Royal Hospital's A&E, where she worked for five years. She then spent two years working in a high security prison as a Complex care nurse.

Followed by a further four years with County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust as a Parkinson's specialist nurse, in which she gained her qualification in prescribing.

She trained at Northumbria University, completing an advanced diploma and then a top up degree. Ashley will work alongside specialist nurse Carmel Wilkinson, MS co-ordinator Vickie Jones, lead MS Consultant Kate Petheram and Consultant Neurologist Gemma Maxwell.

The MS Trust funds 80% of the new MS nurse’s role for the first 15 months and provides support and mentorship for the nurse and their team over that period. 

The MS Trust said its Health Professionals Team is committed to delivering the Specialist Nurse Programmes and providing expert guidance to MS teams.

They develop and support educational opportunities for MS specialists which include a foundation module and an annual conference.

Lucy Taylor, CEO, MS Trust, said: “We’ve been working closely with South Tyneside and Sunderland Foundation Trust for several years and are delighted to be able to support them with this new MS Specialist Nurse appointment.

“We are aware of the pressures the MS team in this area have been facing and are thrilled to help boost capacity with this position.

“We’re also excited to continue our partnership with this NHS Trust to fund an Advanced MS Champion for the region in the next 12 months.”

Diane Palmer, deputy director of nursing for the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We offer a warm welcome to Ashley as she returns to work for our Trust again. She will be joining a team who are passionate about the care they offer to our patients who have MS."