Michael Mullaney supports campaign to make sure people with MND don't die without a voice

Michael Mullaney has signed the MND Association's Charter in recognition of the rights of people living with motor neurone disease (MND) and has agreed to work with the charity to ensure people living with this terminal disease don't die without a voice.

This rapidly progressive disease kills five people every day in the UK, with a third of people dying within 12 months of diagnosis. Between 80% and 95% of people living with MND will experience some communications difficulties, some losing their voice completely, before they die.

Michael Mullaney said "People living with MND should not be left without a voice, with no way to communicate with loved ones and professionals at a very difficult time in their lives. I was contacted by a number of people in Hinckley and Bosworth who have MND or family members with MND about this campaign and I am supportive of it. We need to see a change, and I am committed to working with the MND Association to make sure people with MND get the support and equipment they need."

The MND Association is concerned that too many people with MND are experiencing delays in getting the right support to help them communicate. In some cases people have received essential communication equipment too late, after the person has died.

Chris James, Director of External Affairs for the MND Association said "Losing the ability to speak is one of the most distressing dimensions of MND. The help that communication aids can offer can utterly transform the last weeks and months of a person's life. Being denied them can make that time thoroughly and needlessly wretched. That's why our manifesto is calling for the next government to commit to meeting the communication challenges faced by people with MND. Action must be taken to make sure people with MND don't die without a voice."

For further information please visit www.mndassociation.org/voice