The National Tremor Foundation have secured a donation of £40,000 towards a fundraising campaign at the University of Dundee to obtain a MR Guided focused ultrasound machine for the treatment of essential tremor.

 

If the campaign is successful the machine will be the first of its kind in Scotland and will bring the number of MR Guided focused ultrasound machines in the UK to 2, with the first already in place at St Marys hospital in London. 

 

As a result of some tireless work from NTF member Mary Ramsay, from Inverness, the motion to bring a MR Guided focused ultrasound to Scotland was brought to the Scottish parliament by Scottish MP Rhoda Grant on 16th May 2018. The full transcript  of the debate can be read here : 

 

 

The first UK clinical trials of the treatment took place at St Mary’s Hospital last year, using a MRI machine funded by Imperial Health Charity. On June 20th and after the success of the trials, which was used to treat 13 patients, positive news emerged that unilateral MRI guided focused ultrasound to treat essential tremor was approved by NICE ( National Institute for Health & Care excellence ).  

 

The National Tremor Foundation are delighted to have secured this donation and proud to be at the forefront in campaigning for research & funding into this condition. A successful campaign in Scotland will give hope to many that their lives will be made a little easier with the availability of this equipment.