A TEAM effort is helping support people with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) across South Warwickshire.
A monthly MND clinic started last year at The Shakespeare Hospice at their base in Stratford, with the support of an MND specialist nurse from the University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust. The Myton Hospices have also now joined the collaboration.
The clinic enables a patient to be seen and supported in a one-stop appointment with the all the key clinical staff attending. Patients who would benefit from review are identified at a monthly South Warwickshire MND Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting where all associated professionals come together to share their input regarding patients’ care and support needs.
Sarah Perry, occupational therapist at The Shakespeare Hospice said: “The aim of the MND clinic is to provide individuals, their carers and loved ones the opportunity to access a clinical review from the specialist nurse and occupational therapist as well as support and the opportunity for them to ask questions and raise concerns or queries.
“It is also an opportunity to introduce the support available from the Hospice. Since it was first held, the clinic has been well received with a continual uptake and request for appointments. The success of the clinic has affirmed its benefit to patients and their families leading to its expansion to offer support to those under the care of Warwick Myton Hospice.”
Dr Sarah MacLaran, medical director at The Myton Hospices said healthcare professionals working in Coventry and Warwickshire were passionate about providing the best possible care for people who had MND.
She added: “It is well recognised that every person who has MND is unique. In order to ensure their best care, a full team of specialist professionals are working together very closely to achieve the person’s own specific goals, support their changing needs and be there for their family and carers.
“Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) of professionals including specialist nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, doctors, dietitians, speech therapists, nutrition specialists, neurology teams and specialist palliative care teams are already collaborating virtually to best support the people of Coventry and Warwickshire who have MND.”
Nicola Hadley, occupation therapist for The Myton Hospices said the clinic provided a less formal approach.
She added: “It enables patients and carers to sit and have conversations with professionals, enabling easy flow into accessing support and information from an MND Association volunteer which has been a really good step forward.”
Rachel McTighe, association visitor for the MND Association, welcomed the partnership.
She added: “I’m there to introduce the association and its services to people with MND and their families. It works well, as putting a face to the association in a friendly setting is a gentle introduction and people aren’t so shy about accepting support.
“I’ve had so much positive feedback about the MND clinics held at The Shakespeare Hospice. People tell me it gives them the time and opportunity to ask absolutely anything and everything about living with MND, in a comfortable and nurturing environment.”
