Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system affecting young adults. The lifetime risk is about 1:500 in the UK and there is a slight excess risk in females (it affects three times more females than males).
Onset is usually in early adult life, but children and adolescents can be affected. Multiple sclerosis is a disorder of the central nervous system marked by weakness, numbness, a loss of muscle coordination, and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control.
It is thought to be an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system destroys myelin. Myelin is a substance that acts as a nerve insulator and helps in the transmission of nerve signals.
The Walton Centre MS service
The MS service at The Walton Centre provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary service aiming to assess health needs of people with MS. We provide a full range of hospital-based treatments, with referral to community services for non-specialist management. Specialist MS clinics take place at The Walton Centre, Countess of Chester Hospital and Glan Clwyd.
In addition to this, the Trust has developed a service for patients with neuromyelitis optica, for which is one of only two nationally designated centres in the UK.
Treatments, services and procedures performed
- Diagnostic clinics
- Multidisciplinary treatment clinics
- Therapy clinics
- Relapse clinic
- Functional electrical stimulation clinic
- Vestibular clinic
- Occupation clinic
- Fatigue clinic
- Orthoptic clinic
- Educational programmes (fatigue management and exercise education)
- MS nurse clinics and telephone advice line
Service contact information
- Specialist MS Nurses (The Walton Centre and North Wales): 0151 556 4008 (available 9am - 4pm)
- MS Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Orthoptist – 0151 556 3742
Referral information
Referral is by clinician to clinician via The Walton Centre Patient Access Centre.
Patient leaflets
Multiple sclerosis - bladder symptoms
Multiple sclerosis - constipation
Multiple sclerosis – neurological long-term conditions and therapy team
Multiple sclerosis – pelvic floor exercises
Multiple sclerosis – specialist nurse service
Neurological long-term for professionals
Consultants