A NORTH YORKSHIRE multiple sclerosis sufferer who waited almost two years to be prescribed a life-changing drug has told of the "wonders" it has done for her health.

Sharon Metcalfe, 42, of Easingwold, had feared her condition would have deteriorated too much for her to benefit from her first injection of Beta Interferon on the NHS - hailed as the first drug to improve MS symptoms.

Although she met all the criteria laid down by the Department of Health, Mrs Metcalfe and other patients were denied the drug because many health authorities said the cost of £10,000 per person per year was not justified by its results.

But after 12 months of the weekly injections, Mrs Metcalfe's health has improved so much she has given up her job as a childminder to take on work at St Monica's Hospital and Easingwold Community Primary School.

She said: "It has made an amazing difference to my life.

"It seemed slow to work in the beginning, but when it started to get into my system my whole outlook on life seemed to change.

"I'm less tired, I'm more positive, I'm more active, I can walk further and spend a lot more time with my family. I used to be in a lot of pain all over my body but now it's nothing like how it used to be.

"It has worked wonders."

Mrs Metcalfe, a mother of three, was diagnosed with MS in 1991. She will have to inject herself with the drug every week for the rest of her life

The Government made Beta Interferon, and the similar glatiramer acetate, available on the NHS from May 2002, despite a ruling by its own health standards body NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) that the drugs were not cost-effective.

Although not a cure, the drug has been shown to slow down progression of the disease in some cases.

The journey has not been easy, and Mrs Metcalfe urges other MS sufferers to fight for the treatment if they think it could help them.

"I had to fight long and hard but it has definitely been worth it," she said.

"You've got to keep fighting and push for it. It's there and it's available and if you qualify for it, you need to make sure you get it."

Updated: 09:57 Saturday, February 07, 2004