FAMILIES struggling to cope with the devastating effects of muscular dystrophy are angry that they are still waiting for vital support they have been promised.

Despite a vow from health chiefs that a much needed care advisor would be hired for Hampshire by the end of last year, parents with youngsters suffering from the life-limiting disease are still without help.

Now Julie-Anne Baseley and other frustrated families are demanding to know why bosses have failed to fill the post they promised.

As reported in the Daily Echo last November, muscular dystrophy campaigners welcomed the news that Simon Yupp, from the South Central Health Authority, had pledged that a care advisor for youngsters would be in post by December.

This came after Julie-Anne and other families put pressure on NHS chiefs over their failure to hire more care advisors despite funding being in place since March.

Julie-Anne and her partner Stuart Layton have been fighting for more support since their four-year-old son, Jack, was diagnosed with the disease in May last year.

Muscular Dystrophy is a group of hereditary muscle diseases that weaken the muscles progressively, causing disabilities.

Julie-Anne, of Wickham, said: “We were thrilled to get that promise from Mr Yupp last November but here we are in February and still nothing has happened.

“I am so angry because, despite pouring my heart out to him at the meeting, explaining how tough it has been trying to cope with the disease on our own, he hasn’t be able to stick to his promise.

“Having a care adviser will be invaluable. You cannot put a price on how it will feel to get somebody who understands you and can point you in the right direction for help, whether medical or practical, with disability forms.

‘Lack of respect’ “This shows a complete lack of respect for us but this is my son’s life and I am not going to back down until we get what was promised.”

A spokesman from South Central Health Authority NHS Trust said they were disappointed things had taken longer than anticipated but wouldn’t say what had caused the delay.

They added: “An advert was placed in a local newspaper in January and interviews will take place in March 2011.

“A revised job specification has been produced that will ensure that the post holder will be the key worker in providing expert clinical care to patients in agreed practice settings.

“The post will cover all neuromuscular disease and the role will cover both adults and children.”