NHS Fife to fund extra MND nurse on anniversary of Gordon Aikman's death

On the first anniversary of the death of MND campaigner Gordon Aikman - NHS Fife has committed to a funding an additional MND nurse.

The activist from Fife died at the age of 31 but not before raising more than £600,000 for the fight against the condition.

It comes after figures revealed the patient to nurse ratio for the Fife and Forth Valley area is almost double that of anywhere else in Scotland.

Aikman convinced the First Minister to double the number of MND nurses in Scotland in 2015 and fund them from the public purse.

On the back of his campaign, in 2017 newly diagnosed patients waited just 2 days on average before seeing their MND nurse, compared to 15 days on average before 2015.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said:

“Gordon Aikman was deeply committed to advancing the cause of people living with MND – and his efforts have touched the lives of every family in Scotland who are dealing with MND.

“MND Scotland highlighted that while access to services had been transformed, there was more that could be done in Fife. We’ve spoken with NHS Fife and I’m delighted that the board have committed to secure and fund additional MND Specialist Nursing capacity very soon.

“That will mean that patients in Gordon’s own home area – along with countless more right across Scotland – will benefit from the momentum he created and the good work that followed, receiving the excellent care they deserve.”