Quality requirement 11: Caring for people with neurological conditions during admission to hospital or other health and social care settings

People with long-term neurological conditions are to have their specific neurological needs met while receiving care for other reasons in any health or social care setting.

The network has developed a number of strategies for co-ordinating and enhancing services for people with acquired brain injuries across the county, including a brain injury professional training workshop programme.

The Trust has developed a patient information card for people with spinal muscular atrophy, which is a rare genetic neuro-muscular condition. The card provides information about the condition to health and social care professionals. It is in a compact and easily accessible format, containing contact details of specialists in the condition. People with the condition carry the card and can use it in any situation/ setting when they come into contact with health and social care professionals.

The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association funds a network of twelve MND Care Centres based in regional neuroscience centres. They deliver high quality coordinated assessment and management of care to all people with confirmed or suspected MND in line with the Association’s Standards of Care. The individual centres have developed a number of resources and different ways of working which they are willing to share including fast-track diagnostic clinics, nurse-led clinics, taped consultations, development of advance directives and preferred place of care for specific use in MND, MND care pathways and review processes, carers’ information days, links with local ambulance services, use of volunteers in clinics, and education for staff in primary and secondary care.

The service runs training programmes for health and social care staff.

The service is developing a Professional Care Guide for professionals to use, which will help ensure standardised practice across all care settings in the area.

The team is a regional peer support group of seven Parkinson’s disease nurse specialists. The team has collaborated on some large clinical projects including a care home training package.