New Advanced MS Champion for Coventry and Warwickshire

MS Trust is delighted to announce a new partnership with University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust to fund an Advanced MS Champion.

Caroline Scott's appointment forms part of MS Trust’s Advanced MS Champion Programme, which places MS specialists in areas of greatest need across the UK. 

When people reach a more advanced stage of MS, they may no longer be eligible for disease-modifying drugs, which can lead to a disconnect from their MS service and leave them reliant on family and friends for support. The Advanced MS Champion’s role is to re-establish that link and co-ordinate care for people living with complex needs.

Making an impact

In just a few weeks, Caroline has already made a tangible difference to people with MS in the region by helping them stay well at home and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

We’re not an emergency service, but there are still phone calls and things I can do,” Caroline explained. “Sometimes it’s about alerting the district nursing team for a two-hour response or arranging antibiotics and wrap-around care at home. Keeping people comfortable in their own environment makes such a difference.

Caroline’s work aligns closely with one of the NHS’s key priorities — preventing avoidable hospital admissions through proactive, community-based support. It also highlights the compassionate, person-centred side of nursing that often goes unseen.

People often don’t want to go into hospital because they have pets or they’re worried about being away from home,” she said. “Those things really matter — they’re part of someone’s values and what keeps them grounded.

For many people with MS, fatigue is one of the most common and challenging symptoms. Caroline’s support helps to reduce the burden of chasing for appointments or referrals, which can feel quite debilitating for someone experiencing MS fatigue, by offering timely advice and co-ordinated care.

Looking to the future

Caroline hopes that by demonstrating the difference her role makes, more Advanced MS Champion posts will be created.

I want to do a good enough job that by this time next year, we can have another MS nurse,” she said. “It’s such a big area, so patients often find it difficult to navigate the services available to them. Sometimes GPs will say, ‘It’s your MS,’ but it might be something else. We’re here to make sure nothing gets missed.

As the service continues to develop, Caroline and her colleagues are keen to raise awareness of the support available to people living with MS in the Coventry and Warwickshire areas.

We’re just delighted to have this role as part of our team,” Caroline said. “It means we can diversify our service, reach more people, and make sure they don’t feel alone.