Southwick’s Sussex MS Centre reopens with limited capacity

A charity supporting sufferers of multiple sclerosis has finally reopened its doors after closing its doors in March for lockdown.
Tanya Mepstead, Member, with Ali Dunn, Support Officer SUS-200714-114459001Tanya Mepstead, Member, with Ali Dunn, Support Officer SUS-200714-114459001
Tanya Mepstead, Member, with Ali Dunn, Support Officer SUS-200714-114459001

The Sussex MS Centre in Croft Avenue, Southwick, is a mostly volunteer-led charity that provides affordable oxygen therapy, one-to-one therapies such as acupuncture, counselling, massage, physiotherapy and shiatsu plus keep fit, yoga, pilates and voicework classes.

Centre manager Emily-Jane Stuttard said the safety of staff and users was the top priority, but new guidelines would impact care.

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“To follow public health guidance on social distancing means currently only one person will have oxygen therapy per session as opposed to the usual five people, which vastly reduces our capacity,” she said.

“On average we were treating 92 people a week prior to lockdown. This is now 27 people a week which means that it will take a long time for everyone to catch up on their oxygen needs and the centre will suffer financially due to lack of income.”

Oxygen therapy helps with the management of MS symptoms such as pain, control of incontinence, balance, brain cognition, anxiety, fatigue and depression.

To support the centre contact [email protected] or 01273 594484

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