This information is for health and social care professionals. It is intended to be a go-to online tool to help medical professionals (GPs) understand the journey of a patient with MND and includes information about management from pre-diagnosis to bereavement.
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive and ultimately fatal disease that results in degeneration of the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord.
GPs and others in the primary care team can make a significant difference to the quality of life of people with MND with timely care, support, and symptom management. While the primary healthcare team may be able to meet some of the needs of the person with MND and manage many of their symptoms, the input of other health and social care professionals is vital to the care and support of people with MND.
The GP may act as the gateway to other services, referring to appropriate specialists in the multidisciplinary team.
Where a person with MND is being seen regularly by a neurologist, or other specialist service, a shared-care approach may be agreed between the specialist and GP. This is particularly important where the specialist is based some distance away and access becomes increasingly difficult as the disease progresses.
