Oxford-graduate was on covert policing unit when she got multiple sclerosis diagnosis - and she's flourished

She was a 31-year-old acting detective inspector working with an elite covert policing unit with Thames Valley Police. A graduate of Worcester College, Oxford, with a masters degree in Chemistry, she was on the fast-track to success.

“I loved policing, I’d been married a year. I didn’t want to stop being an operational officer and I didn’t want to die,” she said.

More than a dozen years later, she has been promoted twice – to the rank of detective chief inspector – has had two children and in October will take on the Great South Run in aid of multiple sclerosis charity AIMS.

Her diagnosis came almost ‘completely out of the blue’, she said. “I didn’t know anybody who had multiple sclerosis and I didn’t really know what it was in all honesty.

“Very unusually for multiple sclerosis, I was diagnosed very quickly because they thought I had a tumour on my spine. I was told I had MS, not a tumour on my spine. [The doctors said:] ‘The good news is you haven’t got a tumour, the bad news is you’ve got MS'.

“In the first couple of weeks there was devastation, because at the time the information around multiple sclerosis generally was that within 10 years 50 per cent of people are going to be in a wheelchair.

“That isn’t the case now, thankfully, but this was 13 years ago. I thought that’s the end of my career, they won’t want me in the police.”

Her other fear was that her dreams of starting a family would be over. Reassured that her diagnosis would not stop her from having children, her thoughts turned to her career.

“From the moment I was diagnosed I have had nothing but support from direct line managers and from Thames Valley Police generally – even 13 years ago,” Ms McKay said.

“Things weren’t as formalised back then - it wasn’t as easy - but I think the type of person I am probably helps. I was very, very open from the moment I was diagnosed. I was never stopped doing what I wanted to do. I’ve been promoted twice since I had my diagnosis.”

Her aspirations within the force have ‘changed’, she added. Having started her career in uniform before moving on to the burglary squad then the major crime unit, she has more recently taken senior positions in the learning and development team and the force’s strategy unit.

She has had periods of leave, linked to her condition. The detective flew to Mexico for life-changing stem cell transplant treatment, called HSCT, not easily available on the NHS.

And in October, she will take on the 10-mile Great South Run, raising funds for charity AIMS, which among other initiatives offers travel grants for patients undergoing HSCT treatment.

The senior officer is also the chairman of Thames Valley Police’s Disability Support Network, a staff association helping those in the force with disabilities.

“I know not everyone feels comfortable talking about their own illness or their own disability and I do. I want to empower other people to feel comfortable with themselves,” she told the Oxford Mail.

Asked what her message was for a police officer or member of staff fearful of disclosing a newly-diagnosed condition, Ms McKay said: “Look at my story. I’ve been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis for 13 years and in that time I’ve progressed through two additional ranks, four different policing roles and I still really love my job.

“We’re here within the Disability Support Network to support that person and support anyone in their immediate environment whether it’s through work or home life to show them that it doesn’t have to be a scary, horrible place.”

To donate to Ms McKay's fundraising run, visit her JustGiving page.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward