CC: 5. Will the Minister make a statement on the treatment and support for Dystonia patients in Wales?

Janet Finch-Saunders:

Minister, as has been mentioned, over 3,000 people in Wales are likely to be diagnosed further with dystonia, a complex but little-known neurological condition. Concerns have been raised with me in north Wales by a group of those who are suffering with dystonia. The concerns vary around the vital need, as has been mentioned, for correct and early diagnosis in order to prevent many of those difficult and debilitating life conditions that follow. One of those treatments is botulinum toxin, which is very cost-effective and a very effective symptom treatment. Also, speech and language therapy is essential. These provisions are available in England, but they have great difficulty accessing this provision in north Wales. Would you look into this, please? As you have rightly pointed out, this is a very distressing condition.

Mark Drakeford:

I thank the Member for those ideas. I am very keen that, in developing our delivery plans, we hear directly from people who experience some of these very difficult conditions. I hope very much that the group that she has been in contact with will supply that information as part of the consultation on the delivery plan, but I would be very happy if she were to write to me directly on its behalf to make sure that its views are fed into that consultation process.