Muscular Dystrophy UK has responded to new guidelines from the British Medical Association (BMA) on treatment for people with Covid-19. You can read this guidance here, which advises medics may need to prioritise care if the NHS becomes overwhelmed with new cases.
Rob Burley, Director of Campaigns, Care and Support at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said:
This is already a worrying time for disabled people and their families. People with a muscle-wasting condition are extremely vulnerable as they face months of isolation. They have been concerned for some time now that they will not receive treatment if they test positive for Covid-19. This guidance from the BMA exacerbates that fear.
We are working with clinicians to interpret the guidance. They have been clear it should be individual prognosis, not a diagnosis, that determines any decisions about treatment. But there is a big risk this won’t happen on the ground, and we are seeking assurances that assumptions will not be made about people’s quality of life based on their disability. The guidance around treatment is based on a scenario in which the NHS is overwhelmed, so we strongly urge the government to make it a priority to provide enough resources and equipment to avoid reaching this point.
Now is a time where people need clarity and reassurance. It is imperative clinicians make decisions on a case-by-case basis, not based purely on someone’s condition, and we would welcome the BMA and other groups making this clear.
