Oxygen therapy at MS centre will help with covid

Facility funded by Exeter Chiefs Foundation

An Exeter charity that supports people living with multiple sclerosis has a major new piece of kit to manage symptoms.

The oxygen generation equipment will help hundreds of people across the south west not just with MS, but also chronic fatigue syndrome, stroke, cancer treatments, broken bones, and post-viral syndrome such as long covid and post-Covid.

It's been made possible because of a grant from the Exeter Chiefs Foundation described as 'generous.' 

Oxygen therapy had previously been provided using bottled oxygen stored in large cylinders, which was expensive and attracted a higher carbon footprint due to the oxygen needing to be delivered on a regular basis.  The new system takes air from the atmosphere, cleans it through a number of filters, and feeds it into the therapy equipment inside the Centre.

Chair of the trustees at the MS Centre, Rory Gibson, explained: “The equipment is being brought in due to a change in the rules about delivering medical oxygen from storage cylinders, and the grant has enabled the centre to pursue this upgrade and allow us to continue to provide this therapy with slightly reduced running costs.  We are immeasurably grateful to Tony Rowe OBE and the Exeter Chiefs Foundation for awarding the Centre the generous grant which covered the cost of this significant project”.

Tony Rowe, chairman of the Foundation, added: “As a charity we are delighted to be able to offer this substantial grant to the South West Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre. We know the money will not only make a huge difference to the treatment of patients, but will significantly add to the care the Centre are able to provide. The work of the Foundation is all about helping in situations like this and we are delighted to have offered our support.”

Oxygen therapy for people living with the effects of long-covid, like other post-viral syndromes, is being seen to be beneficial in easing many of the associated symptoms.  Following on from the improvements reported after oxygen treatment of a number of people living with long-covid in many countries, the South West MS Centre is now providing this service, together with other MS therapy centres across the UK.

Some people with long-covid currently undergoing oxygen therapy at centres across the UK report that they are already feeling the benefits. One such person attending Oxygen therapy has been living with the symptoms of long-covid for the last eleven months, has only had 20 sessions of oxygen therapy over the last 5 weeks and has reported a considerable improvement in their general condition with the resolution of aggressive shooting pain, clearing of brain fog, permanent headaches and word blindness. In addition, they have reported that they are no longer fatigued and for the first time in many months are returning to their old self.

Research is ongoing worldwide to find an answer to this serious complication to the virus but whilst the world waits for trials to be completed high dose oxygen may have a major part to play.

Rory Gibson added: "We offer oxygen therapy on a self-referral basis to people with long Covid which may be an aid to simple recovery.”

On Fridays the South West MS Centre opens specially for people with long-covid or post-covid symptoms.  Details of how to access this therapy can be found on the website www.southwestmscentre.co.uk, by ringing 01392 447411.