Motor neurone disease

Service detail

What is MND?

Motor neurone disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurones. Degeneration of the motor neurones leads to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing increasing loss of strength in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing.

The Walton Centre MND Service

The motor neurone disease service, led by Dr Sivakumar Sathasivam, provides advice and support to people diagnosed with MND, their families and the professionals assisting them.

Clinics

There are specialist clinics providing services for people:

• Who are newly diagnosed with MND,
• Who have a confirmed diagnosis and want to attend a specialist MND clinic, rather than use the excellent local general neurology clinics offered by consultants from The Walton Centre,
• Who need assessment and investigation for possible MND.

Newly diagnosed, multidisciplinary clinic

Every month, we hold two multidisciplinary motor neurone disease clinics at The Walton Centre. This is a new initiative, part-funded by the Motor Neurone Disease Association. 

If you attend this clinic, you will have several consultations to meet a team of professionals, as these clinics are designed to provide a one-stop service for people who are recently diagnosed with MND. You will also meet a regional care advisor from the MNDA and be given written information and advice.

MND clinic

For those people who wish to attend a specialised clinic (as an alternative to being cared for in their local general clinic), we offer MND clinics run by Dr Sathasivam and the MND nurse specialist. In this clinic we monitor weight, breathing capacity and disability. The ongoing clinic visits also provide people with the opportunity to take part in research.

In addition, some people are referred to these MND clinics for diagnostic tests and second opinions.

Helpline

The MND nurse helpline (0151 529 5070) gives access to specialist nurse advice and support. This is available for people with MND, their relatives, and professionals. The helpline is not staffed full time, but the nurses will ring you back as soon as they are able.

Education session

Following assessment in the multidisciplinary clinic, we offer an educational programme which aims to inform and support people with MND and their families.  This is run informally for a small group of people with the condition, each of whom can be accompanied by a relative or friend. It lasts approximately three hours and takes place by invitation on Thursday afternoons in Aintree University Hospital or the Clinical Sciences Building, both very close to The Walton Centre.

Research register

The Walton Centre is an internationally recognised centre for MND research, and staff are very committed to furthering knowledge of this condition.

The MND specialist nurses hold a database of all patients seen by the MND service.  This includes information on whether the patient wishes to be considered for research studies. Patients who have chosen to be seen for their follow up visits in the general neurology clinics are very welcome to request that their interest in research is noted on the database.

 

MND Team

Neurologist: Dr Sivakumar Sathasivam

MND nurse specialists: Karen Twist

Occupational therapist: Michelle Ennis

Speech and language therapist: Mel Taylor

Physiotherapist: Nicola White