Dad was told he was 'wasting doctor's time' but his symptom was MND

Scott Stewart is calling for more investment into research and awareness of early motor neurone disease symptoms after his were initially dismissed by his GP. Diagnosed with MND at 40, the Clackmannanshire businessman had first noticed a worrying twitch in his leg that alarmed him enough to contact his doctor.

However, he was told by the surgery that "he’d be wasting doctor’s time". Recounting the experience, Scott said: "It was dreadful. I called the surgery on August 22, 2022 and before I’d even spoken to a doctor I was told I’d be wasting their time if I was to be put through – but I knew something wasn’t right. Even with all the publicity around MND they still didn’t know."

It took another six months before a neurologist confirmed his condition. While the diagnosis was heartbreaking, it also brought some relief. Scott shared: "I’d been driving myself crazy until then. The uncertainty was the most brutal thing. It’s a horrendous thing to process, but at least at that point I could begin to."

After his heartbreaking Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis, the now 42-year-old has not only tied the knot and welcomed his first child but also embarked on a global journey to meet his golfing idols. Despite the challenges, he's actively campaigning for enhanced recognition and education within the medical field regarding MND, alongside championing the efforts of the .

His appeal is heartfelt: "We’re in 2024, and the options available haven’t changed in more than 30 years. Until Doddie (Weir) there wasn’t enough focus on making inroads into doing something that makes a difference to treating the disease. I know any breakthrough probably won’t benefit me now, but I’ll still use my voice to do anything to push it forward. When you really think about it, there’s no way people should need to go through this now."

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

While Scott’s condition is declining as he's now dependent on a wheelchair, he persists in his professional contributions and supporting his family, declaring "Nobody opens a chequebook when you receive an MND diagnosis – you need money to get by, and so does your family." Although MND forced him out of his career as a careers adviser, he finds "purpose" in his advocacy rather than dwelling on what the illness has robbed.

Scott emotionally stated: "I’ve experienced some amazing things this year, but I know none of it would have happened if I wasn’t dying, and I’d swap it all for that not to be the case. There is no way in this day and age that people should need to face such a bleak outlook, and it’s up to everybody to get out there and help drive that change."