PLEASE GIVE HOPE TO ISLA

Football hero backs quest to get treatment green light

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

SCOTLAND legend Graeme Souness has begged health chiefs to help his butterfly girl pal by fast-tracking a new drug that could finally ease her pain.

Isla Grist, 15, suffers agony every day with the butterfly skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa - which causes the skin to blister and tear at the slightest touch.

A treatment which could ease Isla's pain, Filsuvez, is being considered by the Scottish Medicines Committee.

Now Graeme, who has befriended Isla and her family while fundraising for the condition, has urged the SMC to speed up approval of the drug.

The former Rangers boss and Liverpool great said: "It's huge to hear that there is real hope for kids like Isla.

Of course there is a process, but if the SMC can please work on creating hope and delivering relief for these kids it will change a lot of lives for the better.

"There will be even more effective treatments in future hopefully through drug repurposing but this is a huge step. There's nothing at all at the moment so something to help wounds heal faster and reduce pain is massive.

'I know there are more potential treatments coming so the amazing work being done is hopefully paying off.