The Motor Neurone Disease Association of South Australia (MND SA) has been commissioned by the South Australian Department of Health and Wellbeing to develop and promote the Palliative Care Pathway and Referral Network to promote access, provide information and training resources.
MND SA presents these as a faxable/printable resource kit and an online experience.
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.
A pathway with identified triggers for referral to or assistance from palliative care services, and regional palliative care service contact information, and links to evidence-based information on the management of symptoms.
Culturally adapted information and resources about Motor Neurone Disease (to improve access for Aboriginal and non-English speaking consumers and providers).
A series of short educative videos to assist health care providers in the recognition of MND and provision of care.
What Motor Neurone Disease is, the importance of diagnosis and a guide to presentation and management of symptoms
This project is supported by funding from the South Australian Government through the Palliative Care 2020 Grants Program. MNDSA thanks all of our presenters for their time and sharing their knowledge and expertise. For any further information on this project, please contact admin@mndsa.org.au.
