A woman who suffers from multiple sclerosis has spoken out about the postcode lottery faced by people with the condition.

Harriet Connides, who lives in East Finchley, has been chosen to tell her story about the difficulties she faces in accessing the right care as part of a campaign run by the MS Society.

The ‘Stop the MS Lottery’ campaign surveyed 10,000 adults in the UK with the debilitating neurological condition in April, uncovering major disparities in access to medicines, social care support, employment support and health professionals. 

In one of eight short films from sufferers, Mrs Connides describes how she discovered disability living allowance (DLA) after her condition made it a struggle to get to work.

She said: “I really wanted to be a part of the ‘Stop the MS Lottery’ campaign because I wanted to share just how important it is for people all over the UK to have the right access to care.”

The mother of one started receiving DLA seven years ago. The benefit is now being replaced by personal independence payments.

She added: “It enables me to take my daughter to school and to have regular physiotherapy in order to keep my mobility.

“Without this benefit, I would find it hard to leave the house so DLA is vital for me to maintain my independence and quality of life.”

“By sharing my story, I hope that it will contribute to fair access to treatment, drugs and care for people with MS not only in London, but the whole of the UK.”