Joela Mathews Lead Neuroscience Pharmacist, Barts Health NHS Trust

Joela has worked with the Neurology Academy to set up the first neuro-pharmacist masterclass and ensure that key skills and knowledge can be spread among a growing professional subgroup. Joela has played a critical role in the UKCPA neuro-pharmacist group and is currently a member of multiple steering committees that focus on improvement of MS treatment across the country. Joela has played a leading role in many projects within her trust and across the wider MS community, aiming to ensure equity of access to disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for all patients, regardless of their proximity to a specialist MS centre. This has included sharing of protocols and best practice, and initiation of the London-wide MS pharmacist network in collaboration with the NHSE and other MS centres. Joela has also helped set up an immunotherapy service for people with MS who are not eligible for NHSE-funded DMT, despite having signs of disease activity. She has also been involved in a successful application to the NIHR for initiation of a trial for DMT in patients with advanced MS.

To read the full case study and find out more, including the challenges faced, how Joela overcame them and how you could implement this initiative, click here and download the PDF.