Sturgeon agrees to Motor Neurone Disease care review

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has agreed to examine the provision of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) care following a meeting with a dying campaigner.

Gordon Aikman has launched a five-point fightback plan after being diagnosed with the terminal condition.

He wants research funding to be doubled, benefits to be fast tracked and a cancellation of care charges.

Ms Sturgeon said she had been moved by Mr Aikman's campaign.

The former director of research at the pro-UK Better Together campaign, Mr Aikman is also calling for the number of specialist MND nurses be doubled from the current seven.

'Positive and productive'

He wants those posts to be paid for by the public purse rather than funded by charity donations.

He was given a special judges' award at this year's Scottish Politician of the Year Awards and used his acceptance speech to request a meeting with the first minister to discuss care for MND sufferers.

Mr Aikman, who has raised £100,000 for MND research, said "The first minister agreed to end the national scandal of charging terminally-ill patients for personal care."

He described the meeting as "positive and productive" and said "we both believe the postcode lottery needs to end."

Ms Sturgeon has agreed to hold a review of specialist nursing across Scotland and described Mr Aikman's reaction to his diagnosis as "nothing short of inspiring."