People with MND are cared for by a number of different healthcare professionals with differing expertise. This group of professionals is known as a multidisciplinary team (MDT). This project, which is part-funded by MND Scotland, aims to review the role of the MDT in the management of MND, and to develop consensus on best clinical practice in the configuration and format of MDT in the UK.

Dr Jenny Preston said: “UK guidelines suggest that each MDT should provide co-ordinated care for people with MND. The team should include health and social care professionals with expertise in MND who see people in their own homes as well as in the clinic. There is evidence that an MDT approach in clinic can lead to improved survival rates, higher standards of care and cost effective interventions.

“However, evidence is lacking in the optimal configuration and format of the MDT clinic. Consequently, clinics vary in how they are formed and delivered. Optimising the professional configuration and format of the MDT is likely to maximise the benefit of these clinics for people with MND.”

What’s involved?

The team of researchers want to speak to you if:

• you have a diagnosis of MND
• you are a carer for someone with MND
• you work as part of a multidisciplinary team treating people with MND

They need people with your expertise to take part in a study which is aimed at understanding how best to deliver multidisciplinary care to people with MND.

Your participation would include completing three online surveys over a six week period with the opportunity to attend a meeting with other people who have taken part to discuss some of the issues raised in the online questionnaires.

More information

For more information download the Participant Information Sheet, and register to receive an invitation to participate here.

The study is funded by the Gordon Aikman Scholarship, which was set up in 2017 to support healthcare professionals to develop new ideas to improve MND care. In June 2017, MND Scotland announced that we would be match-funding the Scottish Government’s annual £25,000 investment into the Scholarship, bringing its total value up to £50,000 per year.

The study is being carried out by the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit, University of Stirling, in partnership NHS Ayrshire and Arran. This study has been approved by the University of Stirling General University Ethics Panel.