Following the death of a young person who had been placed in a geriatric ward, a group of volunteers decided that enough was enough! The Marie Foster Centre was opened in 1973 to provide for local people living with MS. The land was originally donated by the then Barnet General Hospital and funds to build the Centre were raised by a group led by Eric Foster (the husband of Marie, one of the first residents and after whom the Centre was named).

The centre continues to provide a unique (in the UK) model of care for people with MS and increasingly for people living with other neurological diseases. A typical user often has the most severe form of MS, is wheelchair-bound, possibly quadriplegic, has difficulty dressing, eating and generally coping with things most healthy people take for granted. The 28 beds provide for long term care residents and respite care in a mixture of single and two, four and six bed rooms. Additionally, the Centre also provides day care offering all its users occupational and physiotherapy, aromatherapy, activities, outings and sometimes is simply a place to meet friends.

The Centre is presently funded by the Barnet Primary Care Trust and is subject to the usual constraints we all hear about in regard to the NHS. Equipment for residents and other users is expensive, for example, a single electric airbed (needed for each bed to help prevent pressure sores) costs £5,000 and a single electric wheelchair upwards of £4,000.

The Trust provides basic equipment but the Centre often needs to have specialist items not usually available from the trust, for example, the blood pressure cuffs provided are for use on the upper arm and many of the residents cannot move their arms at all, making it necessary for the Centre to buy special wrist cuffs. Hoists (to transfer people safely from bed to wheelchair) are provided but though these are mobile, they take up a lot of valuable space and are difficult to use in small rooms.

These supplemental costs are all borne by the Centre and many volunteers work hard to raise the necessary funds. The many events held provide an equally important function of enabling residents to feel part of a wider community. Some of the recent events have concentrated on improving the garden facilities. A patio area has been revamped with the installation of a remotely controlled awning, a water feature, planters, and durable tables and chairs contributing to an inviting environment in which to sit or meet with visitors. A sensory room has been established providing a relaxing place for reflexology treatments subsidised by fund-raising.

Events are designed for all participants to have fun and contribute to the well-being of users, also developing a sense of community with family and friends. The International evenings have been a great success and have given everyone a flavour of Irish, Scottish, Italian, Greek, Welsh and English culture. Barn Dances, Race Nights and barbeques as well as an annual fete every summer give residents and carers events to look forward to and a chance to meet with old friends. These events raise much needed cash to buy the extras valued by the residents and users. For example, Marian Costello, who works for RBS organised a Quiz Evening last November (2004) which raised £500 generously match funded by RBS. This money paid for a Christmas party and presents for residents, users and families. The immense emotional benefit to people living with this most difficult disease on a daily basis far outweighed the money raised. She has planned more events for the year ahead as requested by residents who thoroughly enjoyed themselves.