Multiple sclerosis must not be forgotten

This content has been created and funded by Sanofi UK & Ireland, in partnership with Shift.ms

MS affects over 150,000 people in the UK,ⁱ with symptoms ranging from mobility issues and chronic fatigue to cognitive difficulties.ⁱⁱ While modern medicine has advanced MS care, the reality is many people with MS (MSers) still face unacceptable inequities in access to care and a lack of accessible information.ⁱⁱⁱ With the UK seeing a rise in the number of people living with MS,ⁱ it is important that we work together to address these challenges.

The impact of MS is relentless. Everyday tasks can become exhausting.

Many people struggle to remain in employment due to fluctuating symptoms, with approximately 70 per cent of people with MS leaving employment within 10 years of diagnosis (n = 12,200),^iv while others feel isolated due to mobility challenges.^{v, vi}

Mental health issues are prevalent,^vii yet support can be limited. On a system level, MS services across the NHS are stretched thin. Experiences relating to a lack of specialist nurses and delays in access to treatment mean some patients wait months, even years, for the right support.^viii Research suggests that up to 79 per cent of MS patients live in areas where MS nurses are handling unsustainable caseloads, leaving many without the regular care they need.^ix

Shift.ms co-creates projects alongside people with MSers, learning every day from their lived experiences. Through ongoing collaboration and open dialogue, Shift.ms has identified a range of challenges faced by their members, including:

Gaps in connected care: Women are 2.5 times more likely to develop MS than men,^x yet many of their specific healthcare needs remain overlooked. Sexual dysfunction – ranging from reduced libido and numbness to difficulties with arousal and orgasm – can have a profound impact on quality of life, but due to a lack of clear medical pathways, these issues are rarely addressed. People with MS can face challenges in communication with healthcare professionals, which can mean that conversations about issues related to sexual health or menopause are not always initiated, which can leave women to navigate these issues alone. This gap in care highlights the urgent need for better awareness, education, and integrated support to ensure these vital aspects of well-being are not ignored.

The overlooked impact of mental health in MS: An MS diagnosis doesn’t just affect the body – it reshapes a person’s entire sense of self, often triggering feelings of uncertainty, grief, and isolation. Some experiences shared by Shift.ms members suggest that they feel mental health is an afterthought in their MS care, often absent from discussions with neurologists despite its deep and lasting impact. Without enough recognition and pathways for psychological support, many MSers and their loved ones are left to navigate these challenges alone. To improve overall well-being, mental health must become a core component of MS care, ensuring that both the individual and their support network receive the understanding and resources they need.

Bridging the communication gap: MS is a complex and deeply personal condition – its impact extends far beyond clinical scans and test results. Yet, with some MSers having limited consultation time and few chances to meet with a neurologist or MS nurse each year, the stakes for meaningful conversation are high. Shift.ms members often share the challenge of translating their daily reality into language that makes sense in a clinical setting. Fluctuating symptoms, emotional ups and downs, and personal priorities can be hard to express – especially if appointments can feel rushed or overly focused on clinical data.

To close this gap, we need to reimagine how care conversations happen. That means creating tools and environments that support open, two-way dialogue – where MSers are supported to come prepared, feel understood, and are empowered to voice what matters most to them. When MSers, their support network, and healthcare team come together as a care unit, speaking a shared language and making space for evolving decisions, care becomes more personal, more effective – and more human.

These are only some of the challenges people with MS are facing – challenges that require urgent attention. The government has pledged to strengthen the NHS, with a focus on economic growth and sustainable support for long-term conditions like MS. However, MS must be a clear national and local priority. While government action is important, real change requires collaboration.

The MS community, industry, and policymakers must work together to drive progress.

With new ways of thinking about MS disease progression and management, Sanofi and Shift.ms are committed to understanding patient needs and finding ways to improve patient outcomes. Better MS outcomes can only be realised with government leadership.

Together, we must ensure MS is embedded in the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan and the 10-Year Health Plan. Only then will MS be given the attention it deserves.

For more information on how we can best support people living with MS, visit Shift.ms or contact jill.harkin@Sanofi.com or Vivek Basantani (Neurology Franchise Head) at vivek.basantani@sanofi.com.

i) MS Society. Number of people living with MS in UK increases. Available at: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/research/news/number-people-living-ms-uk-increases. Last accessed: April 2025.

ii) MS Society. MS symptoms and signs. Available at: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/signs-and-symptoms. Last accessed: April 2025.

iii) MS Society. Treat me right. Available at: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/treat-me-right. Last accessed: April 2025.

iv) MS International Federation (2016) Simple adjustments could keep people with MS in work. Available at: https://www.msif.org/news/2016/05/24/simple-adjustments-could-keep-people-with-ms-in-work/. Last accessed: April 2025.

v) MS Society. Employment without Barriers. Available at: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-03/APPG%20Report%20FINAL.pdf. Last accessed: April 2025.

vi) MS Society. Loneliness and social isolation affect three in five people with MS. Available at: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/research/news/loneliness-and-social-isolation-affect-three-five-people-ms. Last accessed: April 2025.

vii) MS Society. MS and Mental Health. Available at: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/living-with-ms/physical-and-mental-health/mental-health. Last accessed: April 2025.

viii) MS Society. Neurology Now. Available at: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-04/Neuro%20Report%20V5.pdf. Last accessed: April 2025.

ix) MS Trust. MS Nurse Mapping. Available at: https://mstrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/ms-trust-specialist-nursing-UK-2021.pdf. Last accessed: April 2025.

x) MS Society. Women and MS. Available at: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/what-is-ms/women-and-ms. Last accessed: April 2025.

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