A Hertfordshire man has been given a new lease of life following respite care at the Sue Ryder Neurological Care Centre.

Alex Longmore, who formerly worked with Surrey Police, had to cut short his dream career when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2009.

Unable to work, he was stuck at home and experienced a period of depression.

His social worker arranged for him to have a respite stay at Sue Ryder Neurological Care Centre Stagenhoe.

Alex from Welwyn Garden City said: “When I came to Sue Ryder my depression lifted almost immediately. Interacting with people there was such a big help.”

Stagenhoe, in St Paul's Walden, near Hitchin, provides specialist care for people with a range of neurological conditions such as Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s and MS.

The expert team includes Sue Ryder nurses, physiotherapists, and healthcare assistants who all work together to support people like Alex to live their lives as fully as possible.

Alex experienced a long and winding journey to getting his MS diagnosis.

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He explains: “I was driving, and it was like someone had spread Vaseline on my glasses. I could see, but through a fog of blurriness. When I got to work, I told the sergeant what had happened.

"She told me she was signing me off sick and asked if I wanted a lift home or to the hospital, and I said home. I went to sleep, and when I woke up my eyes were still strange.

"I phoned NHS direct, and they said you need to get to A&E. I thought to myself ‘things just got real!'"

Alex was in hospital for ten days and had multiple CT and MRI scans, as well as a lumbar puncture - but doctors were unable to work out what was wrong with him.

“I was put on IV steroids, and then sent back home," Alex continued. 

"I had a follow up appointment six months later where I was finally given a formal MS diagnosis."

The severity of Alex’s MS symptoms meant he had to take early retirement in September 2012, and he found the transition to civilian life incredibly difficult.

He added: “Once I had taken my son to school, I was just sat on the sofa all day. My depression got worse, and my mental health was not good.”

Alex was offered respite at Stagenhoe after social services couldn’t work out a way to appropriately adapt his home to his needs.

“After I’d been there for a month, social services asked if I’d like to live at Sue Ryder permanently. I spoke to my family, and the next day I was moving in," Alex added.

Nicky Phillips, service director at Sue Ryder Neurological Care Centre Stagenhoe, said: “We have been supporting people here in Hertfordshire for many years, providing expert care for those with complex neurological conditions and specialist neurological rehabilitation. I am incredibly proud of the whole team and the expert levels of care they provide to people like Alex.

“A neurological condition like MS can be life altering for the person involved as well as their loved ones, this is why here at Sue Ryder we tailor our care and support each individual to live the best life they possibly can. Enabling Alex to participate in activities outside of the centre, and to continue to pursue his passion for music are a crucial part of his life here at Stagenhoe.”

To find out how you can support Sue Ryder Neurological Care Centre Stagenhoe, visit sueryder.org/how-we-can-help/stagenhoe/support.