Inverness campaigner with Essential Tremor meets the Queen as she is honoured as a 'Local Hero' in Scottish Parliament following nomination by Labour MSP
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An Inverness woman has been honoured as a 'Local Hero' in the Scottish Parliament after campaigning to improve the lives of people with the condition, Essential Tremor.
Mary Ramsay, of Dalneigh, is chairwoman of the Scottish Tremor Society and has lived with the condition her entire life although it was not diagnosed until she was 48 years old.
She was nominated for the honour by Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant ahead of the sixth Parliamentary session being formally opened by the Queen.
It is estimated there could be 4000 people in Scotland with Essential Tremor.
Since 2016, Mrs Ramsay has helped Dundee University, in conjunction with Ninewells Hospital, with a fundraising drive to raise £2.3million for a focus ultrasound device.
This piece of technology will help those with Essential Tremor and other conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.
She was also involved in petitioning the Parliament to back the provision of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) technology within the health service in Scotland.
The device is now in place and it has treated its first patients – although this was privately funded.
Mrs Ramsay, along with other Local Heroes from across the country, met the Queen during the ceremony in the Scottish Parliament.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, were also in attendance.
Afterwards, Mrs Ramsay said said meeting the Queen in parliament was "a perfect day".
"It was a lovely day and truly one I’ll never forget," she said.
"The work doesn’t stop here, though, and moving forward, I sincerely hope this ultrasound treatment will be funded by the NHS so that everyone who needs treatment can access it.
"I will continue to campaign for this and I look forward to working with Rhoda and others in the future."
Rhoda Grant said: "I have been working with Mary for several years and as a friend, it was lovely to see her and her hard work be recognised.
"She has been instrumental in getting this piece of technology to Scotland. It will see patients have access to not only cheaper surgery, but it is much less invasive than alternative surgeries."
Health campaigner's case to be heard at Scottish Parliament
