INFORMATION FOR PROFESSIONALS

MND New Zealand Support Service

MND New Zealand help guide health professionals so they can provide the best support and care for people living with MND, their carers, families and whanau. Our Support Team Members work closely with health professionals in all DHBs throughout New Zealand. The Support Team Members can

• support health professionals involved in MND care who may have had limited experience of MND
• provide up-to-date, trusted MND information and education
• raise awareness and understanding of MND and developments in MND care, treatment and research
• promote communication, information sharing and collaboration between health professionals (e.g. via attendance of MDT meetings) and other community providers

Best Practice Guidelines

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidelines are the authoritative best-practice guidelines for assessing and managing Motor Neurone Disease, produced in the UK.

These aim to improve care from the time of diagnosis, and cover information and support, organisation of care, managing symptoms and preparing for end of life care. These guidelines are reviewed regularly.

'Red Flags' Tool for GPs

A new diagnostic tool highlighting motor neurone disease ‘red flags’ has been developed for GPs in New Zealand.

The diagnostic tool 'Painless, progressive weakness – Could it be MND?' (PDF) asks GPs to refer relevant patients to a neurologist, thereby reducing inaccurate referrals and speeding up time to an accurate diagnosis.

Adapted with permission from MND Australia and the MND Association of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the tool outlines MND signs and symptoms including bulbar and limb features, respiratory and cognitive features, as well as supporting factors that point towards a diagnosis of MND.

Goodfellow Unit online resource

A useful online resource for GPs and primary health care teams, with the MND module recently updated (2017). You need to register to view (only an email address and password are required).

MND New Zealand Online Forum

We have recently launched the MND New Zealand forum. The forum is an online community for people living with or affected by MND to share experiences and support one another.

The forum is public so anyone can go to the website and read the posts. We emphasize it "is an 'open forum' so please only include information which can be made public. The Forum is not a substitute for professional advice. You should consult your doctor, or other relevant professional, before making any decisions that could affect you or others''.

Health professionals may find the information shared here useful.

MND Australia Resources

MND Care Australia
MND Australia has developed a website specifically for professionals involved in the care of people with MND: MND Care Australia. This is an evidence-based and best practice website for health, disability, aged and community care professionals.

MND Aware 
In 2011 MND Australia also developed the MND Aware online training sessions, which provide health and community care professionals with a basic understanding of MND and the impact of MND on an individual’s life.

MND UK Resources

For Professionals 
The MND Association of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland dedicates a section of their website to health and social care professionals who provide care and support for people with MND.

Healthtalk
'Messages for Professionals from People with MND' is a worthwhile read.