The medicine known as a “signal booster”<\/a> helps electrical messages get through damaged nerve cells in charge of controlling muscles needed to walk.<\/p>\n Prof Frankie Swords, the NHS national medical director, said: “Walking difficulties can have a huge impact on the freedom and independence of people with MS, so this signal-boosting pill could be life-changing for thousands of patients.”<\/p>\n More from Wiltshire<\/p>\n Multiple sclerosis is caused by the immune system attacking the protective covering around nerve cells – known as myelin.<\/p>\n This damage impairs the ability of nerves to carry electrical messages from the brain to the rest of the body – including those needed for the precise control of muscles needed to walk.<\/p>\n But the medicine does not work for everyone.<\/p>\n Emma Richards, from Gloucester, who privately used the drug a decade ago, said she saw no improvement to her mobility.<\/p>\n Richards said the medicine was portrayed to her as a miracle drug but “did not help me”.<\/p>\n Nonetheless, Richards said it is still “really beneficial” to have the drug on the NHS as it does help lots of people.<\/p>\n More than 120,000 people live with MS in England. However, only about 5,000 people a year will be eligible to use the medicine – based on the extent of their walking difficulties.<\/p>\n Clinical trials showed about four in 10 people<\/a> taking the drug had improvements in their walking speed and in how long they could walk for.<\/p>\n Hobbs currently uses a wearable electrical muscle stimulation device on her leg to help it move [Jules Hobbs]<\/p>\n In 2007, Hobbs lost sight in her right eye overnight. This led to four years of testing and an eventual MS diagnosis.<\/p>\n However, her condition worsened during the Covid pandemic when her right leg “stopped working”, she said.<\/p>\n Hobbs uses a functional electronic stimulation device which helps her continue with her career.<\/p>\n “I’m lucky enough that I can still work, so I can go out of the house and I sometimes take walking poles with me to help my balance,” she added.<\/p>\n “Over the years I’ve had to say goodbye to the public performance side of things in my acting career.”<\/p>\n She said England is “pretty late” to Fampridine; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have offered the drug on the NHS for several years.<\/p>\n “Of course it will be disappointing if it doesn’t work, but I would just have to handle it in the way that I’ve handled it all so far,” Hobbs said.<\/p>\n “I’m really hopeful.”<\/p>\n Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630<\/a>.<\/p>\n More on this story![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/1b101f87fc77f67ceaf8cb8c66677ba2.jpeg\"\/)
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