Salford pioneers new spinal treatment

Salford Royal has become one of 11 national centres to offer pioneering spinal treatment for adults.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) affects the nerves in the spinal cord, making muscles weaker and impacting on movement, breathing and swallowing.

Jo McNicol, 44, who was born with SMA was the first adult patient to be treated with Nusinersen at the Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal. The drug, commonly used for children, has now been approved for adult use.

Jo said: “I’m really excited to have finally started treatment and I now feel that there is hope.

“I’ll have to continue the treatment forever but I am hoping it will stop the progression of the condition so I can at least maintain the strength I have now.”

Phillip Kelly, Neuromuscular Specialist Nurse and Care Advisor said: “Despite being in the midst of a global pandemic, we have been working incredibly hard to develop this new service which we hope will vastly improve quality of life for patients living with SMA.”

Salford Royal is part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group - which brings together Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

James Lilleker (right), lead of the SMA service with Jo McNicol and members of the SMA treatment team.