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Neurosciences
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Service
Contact: (0191) 256 3693 (direct line/helpline) or (0191) 256 2663 - Yvette Hodson and Frances Kelly, Motor Neurone Disease Specialist Nurses
The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Care Centre is based in the Regional Neurosciences Centre at Newcastle General Hospital. We offer specialist diagnostic and disease management services to patients with MND and their carers. The service is managed by a consultant neurologist specialising in MND, and by two MND nurse specialists.
We place particular emphasis on careful and accurate initial diagnosis, and on holistic, patient-centred management of the disease. To help in diagnosis, the Regional Neurosciences Centre has state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities, including electromyography and nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCS), which measure electrical activity in the muscles and nerves.
Helping you to manage your condition
The identification and control of key symptoms is at the heart of our holistic approach to the management of MND. The MND nurse specialists help coordinate care and specialist rehabilitation services for symptom management, and help with equipment or carer support if necessary. They run support groups for patients, their families and carers to discuss aspects of the disease, its management and their concerns.
Our staff work in close partnership with speech & language therapists, dieticians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and the specialist regional rehabilitation services to provide a seamless service to all our patients.
Specialist advice and support where and when you need it
We are committed to working closely with rehabilitation services in the community to ensure that people with MND get all the support and care they need to lead as normal a life as possible. Domicilary home visits are common practice, particularly where hospital attendance is difficult, and there is a dedicated direct telephone helpline. There are strong links with local voluntary groups and charities which can provide further specialist information and support. The care centre also produces a bi-monthly newsletter to help keep you up to date with activities and services in your local area.
The Newcastle MND care centre works closely with other care centres nationally and through these partnerships is involved in research and trials to improve clinical practice. This means that patients attending the centre may have the opportunity to try potential new therapies for their condition and are often first to benefit from ground-breaking new treatments.
Contact us
If you would like to find out more information about any aspect of our Motor Neurone Disease Service please don't hesitate to contact:
Yvette Hodson and Frances Kelly
Motor Neurone Disease Specialist Nurses
Telephone: (0191) 256 3693 (direct line/helpline)
Dr T L Williams
Consultant Neurologist (Centre Director)
Telephone: (0191) 256 3693 (direct line/helpline)
