Scottish Multiple Sclerosis Register (SMSR)
Figures from January to December 2025

About this release

This annual publication from Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents findings from the Scottish Multiple Sclerosis Register (SMSR) relating to people newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) during 2025. The report places these findings within the wider context of long-term trends in MS epidemiology and service delivery across Scotland, including variations in incidence, access to specialist services, diagnostic pathways and key measures of care quality.

Main points

• In 2025, 516 people with a newly confirmed diagnosis of MS were recorded in the SMSR. Since the establishment of the register in 2010, a total of 7,880 newly diagnosed individuals have been reported. With 15 years of national data now available, the SMSR provides a robust understanding of MS incidence and service delivery across Scotland.

This is a line graph with year on the x-axis and percentage on the y-axis showing the percentage trend of patients in Scotland with a new diagnosis of MS contacted by a MS specialist nurse within 10 working days of confirmed diagnosis. This line chart depicts a consistent rise across the period with steep dip in 2012 (44.4%) and a gentle decline in 2022 (85.7%). 2025 compliance at 94.1% is the highest since the registry began in 2010.

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Percentage of patients with a new diagnosis of MS contacted by a MS specialist nurse within 10 working days of confirmed diagnosis

• The introduction of revised McDonald international diagnostic criteria during 2025 may support earlier diagnosis of MS and influence future incidence patterns in Scotland. These internationally recognised criteria, used by neurologists to diagnose MS, now incorporate additional imaging and biological markers of disease activity. The changes may allow some individuals to receive a diagnosis sooner, potentially reducing diagnostic delay and enabling earlier access to specialist support and treatment.
• Since the SMSR was established in 2010, women have consistently accounted for the majority of new MS diagnoses in Scotland. This pattern continued in 2025, with the incidence rate among females remaining more than double that among males. The finding is consistent with both historical SMSR data and the wider international evidence demonstrating a higher incidence of MS among women, although the reasons for this disparity are not yet fully understood
• Performance against the SMSR national clinical standard continued to improve in 2025, with 94.1% of newly diagnosed individuals receiving contact from an MS specialist nurse within 10 working days of diagnosis, compared with 93.3% in 2024. The standard is intended to ensure that all newly diagnosed individuals receive timely access to specialist nursing support following diagnosis. The continued improvement in performance indicates sustained delivery of timely specialist support and progress towards achieving the standard for every person diagnosed with MS.
• Paediatric Onset Multiple Sclerosis (POMS) refers to multiple sclerosis that develops during childhood or adolescence and is estimated to account for 3% to 5% of all MS cases. This is the second year that this important subgroup has been included in the annual report, supporting a more robust understanding of this population. Although case numbers remain small, the continued collection and reporting of POMS data provides an opportunity to explore variation in incidence, diagnostic pathways and access to specialist services over time. As the dataset matures, it will contribute to a stronger evidence base for clinical practice, service planning and future research.
  Ongoing annual reporting will be important in improving understanding of this population and ensuring that services remain responsive to the needs of children and young people diagnosed with MS.
• Despite improvements in post-diagnostic support, delays in diagnosis remain a significant challenge. In 2025, 15.9% of individuals waited more than two years for a confirmed MS diagnosis, an increase from 13.8% in 2024. This highlights the continuing importance of timely access to specialist neurology assessment and diagnostic investigations. The introduction of the revised 2024 McDonald criteria in 2025 may support earlier diagnosis of MS in future years.

Background

The Scottish Multiple Sclerosis Register is a national clinical register within the Scottish National Audit Programme, managed by PHS. The register supports monitoring of MS incidence across Scotland and provides information to evaluate services, identify variation and support improvements in the quality of care delivered to people living with MS.

Data are submitted by neurologists and specialist MS teams through a secure electronic data capture platform (REDCap). This enables information to be collected across key stages of the patient journey, including referral, diagnosis and engagement with specialist support services.

The principal national standard monitored through the register focuses on timely access to specialist nursing support following diagnosis. Early contact with an MS specialist nurse provides individuals with access to expert advice, information and support at a critical stage in their care, helping them understand their diagnosis and navigate available treatment and support options.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be July 2027.