There are motor neurone disease clinics or services available across Australia. These specialist clinics offer multidisciplinary care for people with MND.
Health professionals from a range of disciplines work with each other to diagnose and manage MND symptoms. The health professionals involved in these clinics and services are experienced in MND.
The clinics are often held in outpatient clinics at a hospital. This means you can come into the clinic for review without being admitted to hospital.
MND clinics are usually made up of a neurologist and other specialist doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. Clinics enable people with MND to see the team for advice and guidance on a regular basis and at one location.
Visits to the MND clinic and the multidisciplinary team members’ consultations are usually covered by Medicare unless the clinic is privately run. You will need to discuss any out of pocket expenses with the clinic coordinator or your neurologist
Motor neurone disease is a complex condition. People living with MND are likely to need advice about a diverse range of functions including:
- mobility
- speech
- breathing
- healthy eating
- taking care of other symptoms
- getting support at home.
How you handle symptoms that appear early on can impact the management of later-developing symptoms. Attending a clinic for regular review allows you to get expert advice on how to take care of your symptoms and to plan for the future in the most effective way.
Many health professionals may rarely see people with MND during the course of their working life. Health professionals at MND clinics see people with MND on a regular basis. They are experts in MND. As studies have shown, this knowledge means they can give you better care and advice.
Multidisciplinary care via a MND clinic can provide:
- a confirmed diagnosis of MND
- coordinated referral to professionals, so problems can be dealt with promptly
- regular review of symptoms
- specialised advice from a broad range of health and community care professionals
- care that is timely, organised and tailored to your needs and
- in many cases, bulk billing, which lowers the cost of seeing specialist health professionals.
After you arrive at the clinic, you and any support people you have with you will be directed to a consultation room. The different professionals take turns coming in and reviewing your needs.
Multidisciplinary teams vary between hospitals but may include the following:
- neurologist
- clinical nurse consultant
- dietitian
- occupational therapist
- physiotherapist
- speech pathologist
- social worker
- psychologist, and
- MND advisor.
The team will regularly meet to discuss your care. These meetings are known as case conferences and the purpose is to make sure your needs are met and well planned for.
Case conferences are held on clinic days. The team will discuss their recommendations and treatment, working together to give the best possible care and support.
To visit an MND clinic you need a referral from your neurologist or GP. Once you have a referral, you can contact your local clinic to organise an appointment and ask questions.
Your MND advisor is also a great source of information about your local MND clinic. The MND Associations employ MND advisors, usually professionals with a health or disability-related qualification, who provide specialist information and support to people living with MND.
Calling or emailing your local MND clinic contact is an option also. Contact details for Australian MND clinics are available below.
Multidisciplinary MND clinics
NEW SOUTH WALES
Calvary Health Care MND Service
91–111 Rocky Point Road, Kogarah NSW 2217
Contact: Donna Berry, Coordinator
T: (02) 9553 3444 or (02) 9553 3111
E: donna.berry1@health.nsw.gov.au
Fax: (02) 95881635
Liverpool Hospital MND Clinic
Corner Elizabeth & Goulburn Streets, Liverpool NSW 2170
Contact via reception (02) 8738 3000 & ask for MND clinic
Fax: (02) 8738 4102
Macquarie Neurology Clinic
Suite 204, Level 2, 2 Technology Place
Macquarie University, NSW 2109
Contact: Kristina Barnes, CNC
T: (02) 9812 3742
E: kristina.barnes@muh.org.au
Clinica Neurology
Neuroscience Research Australia
139 Barker Street, Randwick NSW 2031
T: (02) 9399 1146
F: (02) 9070 6874
E: clinicaneurology@neura.edu.au
Murwillumbah MND Clinic
Murwillumbah Hospital
8-10 Ewing St, Murwillambah NSW 2484
T: (02) 6672 0274
F: (02) 6672 0114
Hunter New England MND Multidisciplinary Clinic
John Hunter Hospital
Lookout Road, New Lambton NSW 2305
Contact: Cathy Bros, Coordinator
T: 0408 976 574
E: catherine.bros@health.nsw.gov.au
Illawarra Shoalhaven Multidisciplinary MND Service
(allied health home based service covering Helensburgh to North Durras)
c/- Palliative Care Allied Health Team
Unit 28-29 Piccadilly Centre
341 Crown Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
Contact: Anna Fulford, Allied Health Team Leader
T: 1300 068 458
E: ISLHD-ISLHD-AlliedHealthPalliativeCare@health.nsw.gov.au
ALS/MND Multidisciplinary Clinic
Brain and Nerve Research Center, Concord Hospital
Building 20, Hospital Rd, Concord NSW 2139
Contact: Mary Benjamin
T: 02 9767 8447
E: slhd-bnrc@health.nsw.gov.au
Referrals addressed to Prof Steve Vucic or Dr Veena Raykar
Auburn Hospital MND Clinic for Western Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains
263 Hargrave Road, Auburn NSW 2144
Contact: Andrew Peers, Coordinator
T: 0439 987 913
E: Andrew.Peers@health.nsw.gov.au
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Fiona Stanley Hospital MND Clinic
Robin Warren Drive, Murdoch WA 6150
T: (08) 6152 0618
Perron Institute MND Clinic
8 Verdun St, Nedlands WA 6009
Contact: Sue Walters, Manager Clinical Services
T: (08) 6457 0200
E: clinic@perron.uwa.edu.au
Midlands MND Clinic
St John of God Hospital
1 Clayton St, Midland WA 6056
QUEENSLAND
Princess Alexandra Hospital MND Clinic
199 Ipswich Rd, Woolloongabba QLD 4102
Contact: Lois Quick, Coordinator
T: (07) 3156 9419
E: lois.quick@health.qld.gov.au
Prince Charles Hospital Specialist Outpatient Clinics
Rode Road, Chermside QLD 4032
Contact: Lily Tang, Coordinator
T: (07) 3139 4207
E: CNC.MND@health.qld.gov.au
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
Neurology Outpatient Department
Butterfield St, Herston QLD 4029
Contact: Lily Tang, Coordinator
T: (07) 3646 3111
E: CNC.MND@health.qld.gov.au
Fax: 07 3646 2632
The Sunshine Coast University Hospital MND Clinic
6 Doherty Street, Birtinya QLD 4575
Contact: Dawn Harwood, Coordinator
T: (07) 5202 7894
Gold Coast University Hospital
Neurology Service, Level 5, A Block 1,
Hospital Boulevard, Southport 4215
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
ACT Multidisciplinary MND Clinic
University of Canberra Hospital
20 Guraguma Street, Bruce ACT 2617
Contact: Clinic Coordinator
T: 02 5124 0232
E: uchbrindabellarehabilitation@act.gov.au
VICTORIA
Barwon Health MND Clinic
McKellar Centre
45–95 Ballarat Rd, North Geelong VIC 3215
T: (03) 4215 7009
F: (03) 4215 6486
E: pnc@barwonhealth.org.au
State-wide Progressive Neurological Disease Clinic
Calvary Health Care Bethlehem
476 Kooyong Road, Caulfield South VIC 3162
T: (03) 03 9834 9400
E: BET-AdminSPNDS@calvarycare.org.au
Northern Health Progressive Neurological Disease Clinic
Bundoora Extended Care Centre
1231 Plenty Road, Bundoora VIC 3083
MND Clinical & Research Service
The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Level 4 North, 300 Grattan St, Parkville VIC 3050
Contact: Dr Thanuja Dharmadasa
T: (03) 9342 7693
E: clinicalneurophysiology@mh.org.au
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
South Australian MND Multidisciplinary Clinic
Flinders Medical Centre
Flinders Drive, Bedford Park SA 5042
Contact: Leanne Davis, Coordinator
T: (08) 8204 5005 or (08) 8204 4187
E: Health.FMCMNDClinic@sa.gov.au
TASMANIA
Launceston General Hospital MND Clinic
Charles Street, Launceston TAS 7250
Contact: Sharon Wendon, Nurse Practitioner
T: 03 67776317
E: sharon.wendon@ths.tas.gov.au
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