A weekly motor neurone disease clinic has opened at the WA Neuroscience Research Institute’s clinical premises within the QEII Medical Centre in Nedlands.
There are currently about 150 people with motor neurone disease in Western Australia with approximately 50 new cases diagnosed each year. The clinic is a joint initiative between the WA Health Department, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and the Perron Institute.
Steve Arnott, the Perron Institute’s Chief Executive Officer said “this new clinic is a welcome addition to the specialist clinical services that our institute offers, and it fits within our strategy to expand the Perron Institute’s clinics over the next year so that we can support even more West Australians suffering from neurological conditions.”
The director of the new motor neurone disease clinic is neurologist Dr Rob Edis who has participated in similar clinics at Royal Perth Hospital’s Shenton Park Campus for over ten years.
Dr Edis said that he was delighted that a major recommendation of the Health Department’s 2008 Model of Care for people in WA with motor neurone disease has now been implemented, with two public clinics now operational and servicing the north and south of the Swan River (metro and country areas).
In its clinical and research endeavours, the ‘north-servicing’ the Perron Institute clinic will work in tandem with the ‘south-servicing’ clinic at the Fiona Stanley Hospital, which is under the direction of Dr Merrilee Needham.
Dr Edis said “we will help and empower patients and families through the course of this devastating disease by offering multidisciplinary specialised care and support for those with motor neurone disease.”
“The clinic will also participate in Australia-wide research projects into MND and continue the institute’s contribution to the Australian Motor Neurone Disease Registry which, with over 2000 patients already, provides a vital research database.”
The weekly clinic team at the Perron Institute’s motor neurone disease clinic includes its director, Dr Rob Edis (neurologist), a MND Association Care Advisor and NCCCP Community Neurological Nurse (for those under 65 years old). Referrals to additional professionals and services are then made where required.
The clinic’s team works closely with the MND Association of WA, especially its Care Advisors, and all those with MND in WA (and those who care for them) are encouraged to join the Association for their ongoing reliable information and support and for its assistance in navigating the extensive community health services available.
The Perron Institute MND clinic will accept referrals from any doctor, including general practitioners, for diagnosis, a second opinion and/or long-term care, as long as they are within the North Metropolitan Health Service postcodes (essentially all areas north of the Swan River).
Find out more about the clinics and referral process here.