A charity's campaign to keep its prices down has been taken to Parliament.

The Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Centre in Southwick asks for donations to provide alternative therapies, including acupuncture and shiatsu, for 400 people a year.

Although it is run from a Portakabin it is classed as a private hospital and has to pay thousands of pounds for inspections by the Healthcare Commission because it also provides a specialist treatment called hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton has written to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt and tabled questions in the House of Commons.

He said: "The centre is a lifeline for people with MS and can really help their symptoms.

"It does an awful lot of good by offering services not available on the NHS.

"I support it in its fight to have these inspection fees changed.

"The charity does not get Government funding and is working on a shoestring.

"It has to rely on the support of people around it and the last thing it wants is to have to start charging people a lot of money for its services.

"I also question why the fees are going up so much and how they can be justified by the Healthcare Commission."

The cost of an inspection by the Healthcare Commission is £1,080 and this year it will go up to £1,566.

The commission has indicated it will be about £4,000 by 2008.

Running the centre costs just £3,000 a year. MS sufferers are asked for a donation to use the hyperbaric chamber and a small fee for other services.

The commission classifies the charity as an independent hospital like one run by Bupa, even though it does not do operations, administer drugs or have overnight beds.

Centre manager Alan Taylor said: "We have no problem with the actual inspections but the fees have increased this year by 50 per cent and they are going to go up even more.

"We are one of 39 similar MS treatment centres, the only group of organisations under these regulations that is not profit-making or funded by a statutory body.

"We are just people with MS helping others with MS.

"The legislation says the Secretary of State may make provision for an independent person or panel to review the amount charged in any particular case and if that person or panel thinks fit ,to substitute a lesser amount.

"All we are asking is for such an independent review so that we can argue our case as a c harity for a more appropriate fee structure reflecting the ability to pay.

"So far our representations to the Secretary of State, the Department of Health and the Healthcare Commission have generated stock replies on how the fee reflects the cost to the Healthcare Commission and the amount of work does not differ.

"However, the inspection fee for a hospice is only £300."

The charity was established at Southlands Hospital in 1984 and moved to its temporary building on the recreation ground at Southwick in 1994.

Anyone interested in helping the charity should call 01273 594484 or go to www.mssussex.com