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Blessing for new medical technology


By Iain Ramage



Mary Ramsay
Mary Ramsay

AN Inverness grandmother is celebrating the approval of new technology that could benefit a million people in the UK who, like her, suffer from a debilitating condition.

Non-invasive ultrasound equipment created by Israeli medical technology firm Insightec has had the blessing of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) which advises British health authorities.

Essential tremor (ET) and similar conditions impact people's ability to perform everyday tasks due to uncontrollable shaking.

Sufferers treated at St Mary's Hospital in London have experienced substantial improvement after access to the equipment, according to senior surgeons.

The machine enables ultrasound waves to pass through the skull to the part of the brain responsible for the tremor.

Due to the incision-less nature of focused ultrasound, there is no risk of infection and patients recover quickly.

Mary Ramsay (61), a lifelong ET sufferer, has had to travel 450 miles to Newcastle – but for an alternative and invasive treatment. No other relevant technology was available anywhere in Scotland.

Her case sparked a recent debate in the Scottish Parliament in support of her campaign for specialist equipment nearer home.

She said: "I'm highly delighted. It's now up to the health boards.

"I'd urge those in the north and east to consider having the focus ultrasound scanner because there's currently nothing for people with neurological problems, ET or otherwise, in these areas. I don't feel it's fair to have everything centralised in one place."

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant, who has worked closely with Mrs Ramsay to secure such specialist equipment for the north, said: "The waiting list is likely to grow further for treatments south of the border.

"So, Nice's statement makes it even more important that Scotland has its own treatment programme. I'll be pressing the health secretary to support this work."

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