In this first week you will examine multidisciplinary working and consider its benefits and challenges. You will also critically investigate the NICE MND Guideline NG42 and its accompanying quality standards.

Let's start off by watching this video to explain what you will be doing.

Whilst you work through the tasks in Week 1 consider these focus questions:

 What is meant by a multidisciplinary approach?

• Why is a multidisciplinary approach important, particularly for people living with MND?
• Which aspects of MND care require the input of a multidisciplinary team?
• What are your experiences of multidisciplinary working?

Recommended Reading

A multidisciplinary approach to care has been promoted through various documents and initiatives over many years.

Published in 2016, The NICE Guideline Motor Neurone disease: assessment and management (NG42), states the need for an MDT in the case of a person living with MND. The Guideline section 9, ‘Organisation of Care’ gives further detail in its recommendations 1.5.1 - 1.5.12.

NICE Guideline recommendation 1.5.1 is to,

‘Provide coordinated care for people with MND, using a clinic based specialist MND multidisciplinary approach. The clinic may be community or hospital based.’

Essential Reading

Motor neurone disease: assessment and management. NICE guideline [NG42] Published date February 2016.  Section 9

 If you have more time, here is a recommended reading list for this week:

Effective multidisciplinary working: the key to high-quality care.

Improving the effectiveness of multidisciplinary team meetings for patients with chronic diseases: a prospective observational study.

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