Sutton Council and Sutton CCG are the first council and CCG in England to sign the charter jointly.
The decision to adopt the MND Charter was made at the council’s Health and Wellbeing Board yesterday (Monday 26 September). The voluntary and community sector representatives on the board also endorsed the charter and committed to joining the council and the Sutton CCG to ensure that individuals and families with MND in the borough get the best-possible support.
MND is still little understood and the MND Charter seeks to raise awareness of the disease and ensure that people receive respect, care and support that people living with motor neurone disease and their carers deserve and should expect.
The MND Charter has five key points:
People with MND have the right to an early diagnosis and information
People with MND have the right to high-quality care and treatments
People with MND have the right to be treated as individuals and with dignity and respect
People with MND have the right to maximise their quality of life
Carers of people with MND have the right to be valued, respected, listened to and well supported.
Cllr Simon Wales, Deputy Leader of Sutton Council and Lead Member for the Voluntary Sector, said:
“I am delighted that Sutton Council and Sutton CCG have together agreed to adopt the MND Charter. It is vital that more people are aware of the needs of people with MND in the borough so those living with this devastating disease can maximise their quality of life.”
David Setters, who lives with MND and is the Campaigns Contact for the East Surrey branch of the MND Association, which covers the London Borough of Sutton, said:
“Receiving a diagnosis of MND is devastating. To know that Sutton Council and the CCG are supportive of our efforts to improve standards of care and treatment is a major boost.
“MND is an extremely complex disease, involving health and social care professionals from many different disciplines, and we look forward to working with services in the borough to further ease the burden on those families affected.”
Sutton resident Sheetal Girdhari added:
“I am happy that the council has adopted the MND Charter. My husband sadly passed away from MND earlier this year. Through our personal experience, I know first-hand that improvements are needed.
“We must ensure those living with MND locally and their carers are given access to excellent care and support at the right time. Although things were extremely difficult for us, I hope that by highlighting these issues and raising awareness of MND we can work together now to make things better for other families.”
Chris James, Director of External Affairs for the MND Association, said:
“The importance of the MND Charter is undeniable. We want everyone to be clear that access to the right care, in the right place, at the right time, as set out in our Charter, can transform lives.”
The MND Charter was signed jointly by Sutton Council and Sutton CCG at Civic Offices. From left, Cllr Ruth Dombey, Leader of Sutton Council and Chair of the council’s Health and Wellbeing Board, Dr Brendan Hudson, Chair of Sutton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), David Setters of the MND Association, who lives with MND, and Cllr Simon Wales, Deputy Leader of Sutton Council
MND