MS Ressearch Unit

MS First policy:

#1 Authority and complementarity:

Any medical or health advice provided and hosted on "MS Research" will only be given by medically and clinically trained and qualified professionals unless a clear statement is made that a piece of advice offered is from a non-medically qualified individual or organisation. The information provided on this site is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician.

#2 Aim and audience:
The aim of this MSfirst website are education and information for those who have MS, their families and for professionals who work in the field of MS research and treatment.
The Bristol MS Research and Support Unit offers expertise and insight to NHS staff (e.g. nurses, physiotherapists etc.) and those in other organisations to foster a better understanding of MS and its impact. Support is not restricted to the South-West of England but is available to the whole UK. The support includes a range of MS internet sites and useful organisations on this website for tho

#3 Confidentiality and privacy:

Confidentiality of data relating to individual patients and visitors to the site of Multiple Sclerosis Research Training and Education ("MS Research") and MS First for the MS Research Unit, including their identity, is respected by this Web site. The Web site owners undertake to honour or exceed the legal requirements of medical/health information privacy that apply in the UK. We would like people with MS interested to participate in experiments to contact us by surface mail or telephone. We do not pass on any addresses or personal details to any other organisations. All experiments are conducted within the rules of the ethics committee, assuring that all returned questionnaires remain anonymous.

#4Transparency of sponsorship:

Support for this Web site will be clearly identified, including the identities of commercial and non-commercial organisations that have contributed funding, services or material for the site. This Digital Bristol site is a free community resource provided by the partnership of:

A network used by Digital Bristol users shall be for, or in support of, Bristol's community, business and economic, educational, government, social and leisure concerns. It is aimed to stimulate the provision of a sustainable and visually appealing Internet resource which represents the community that makes up the City of Bristol

#5 Attribution:

Where appropriate, information contained on this site will be supported by clear references to source data and, where possible, have specific HTML links to that data. The date when a clinical page was last modified will be clearly displayed (e.g. at the bottom of the page).

#6 Justifiability:

Any claims relating to the benefits/performance of a specific treatment, commercial product or service will be supported by appropriate, balanced evidence in the manner outlined above in Principle 5.

#7 Honesty in advertising and editorial policy:

MS First is a Multiple Sclerosis Research Unit based within United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust (UBHT). Our funds are managed by The Charitable Trusts of UBH (Registered Charity Number 229945)- Advertising is not a source of funding for MS First. However, some generous benefactors might be acknowledged and identified as such on our website to facilitate differentiation between it and the original material created by the MS Research Unit.

#8 Disclaimer:

While we have every confidence in the web site material linked to this site we cannot be directly responsible for any advice or comments made on the web sites of other individuals or organisations. The information you gather from the world wide web, chat, newsgroups or e-mail lists should not be relied upon as a substitute for formal advice from your GP, MS nurse or neurologist. Always speak to your primary medical advisor or the MS Research Unit before trying any treatment you read about on the Internet