Need for and use of social and health services by multiple sclerosis patients living at home in England.

200 disabled multiple sclerosis patients living at home in England were interviewed to discover to what extent they were receiving the social and health benefits to which they were entitled. Many patients were ignorant of their entitlements, and there were major deficiencies in their receipt of cash benefits, job retraining, rehousing and home alterations, help in the home, and telephones, cars, and radio and television receivers. Social-worker visits were infrequent and ineffective. No single person is responsible for informing patients about benefits and helping to secure them. A multiple sclerosis register is recommended, together with automatic referral of those listed to social workers. The only major criticism of medical care was that the diagnosis should be revealed to the patient earlier and more information on the disorder should be provided. More frequent contact with multiple sclerosis patients by ancillary health workers (physiotherapists and health visitors) is needed.