article_snippet: Yet campaigners fear many funding gaps throughout Britain mean many sufferers fail to get the help many sufferers deserve.
article_snippet: ‘Everyone with MND should be able to access speech and language therapy and the range of communication equipment technology which is out there.
article_snippet: Figures show at least two out of five MND patients wait more than six weeks to get the communication equipment Figures need, which can range from simple alphabet charts and speech therapy to high-tech support such as text-to-speech devices, eye gaze systems and voice-banking.
article_snippet: Between 80-95 per cent of people living with MND experience some loss of speech before they die.
article_snippet: Up to 5,000 people are living with MND at any time but 30 per cent die within a year of diagnosis, and over 50 per cent within two years.
article_snippet: Currently the NHS funds communication aids for fewer than half the people with MND who need them, according to an investigation by MPs from the All Party Parliamentary Group on MND.
article_snippet: As part of the 2012 NHS reforms, the Coalition Government identified that NHS England had a duty to provide communications support and equipment for people living with MND.
article_snippet: However, the change to specialised commissioning in 2013 which should result in high- quality services across the country has resulted in catastrophic failure for people with MND, said Karen Pearce from the MND Association.
article_snippet: Karen Pearce from the MND Association said: ‘People with motor neurone disease are having grave problems accessing the funding that is meant to be available for communication support in NHS England.
article_snippet: Despite pockets of excellence, people with MND and health professionals tell us that speech and language therapy support services are also poor in too many areas, for example, in Surrey, Sussex, Birmingham, Worcestershire and West Yorkshire.
article_snippet: Building manager Liam Dwyer, 51, who was diagnosed with MND in 2005, has been waiting since last July for a speech and language therapy assessment.
article_snippet: ‘Everyone with MND should be able to access speech and language therapy and the range of communication equipment technology which is out there.
article_snippet: A delegation of experts is to meet Liberal Democrat health minister Norman Lamb tomorrow asking Liberal Democrat health minister Norman Lamb to take action over delays for people with MND in accessing communications support and equipment.