Suitable Walsall patients with Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis will be able to benefit from Tai Chi sessions to help them manage their health and wellbeing.

Two assistant practitioners from Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s Community Neurological Rehabilitation Team based at Short Heath Clinic, Mary McKenzie and Diane Ward, have been funded through its Well Wishers charity to go on a course specialising in the approach. They hope to be able to offer sessions to carefully selected patients in the autumn.

Beth Ashcroft, Team Lead/Physiotherapist explained: “There is growing evidence that Tai Chi can help patients with neurological conditions to improve their balance, reduce falls, maintain a range of movement and muscle strength and reduce anxiety – particularly people with Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

“Now that we have the funding from the charity we can send Mary and Diane on the course so that they can offer this to those patients who are suitable as part of the work we do through our patient education sessions to support those managing long term conditions. Our patients have asked us for Tai Chi to be made available and we’re really pleased to be able to offer this, where appropriate, as an additional element to our self-management strategies.”

Georgie Westley, Fundraising Manager, added: “Well Wishers is all about enhancing our patients’ experience and the charity is pleased to support the trust’s community services in this way.”