This MS MasterClass 8 intermodule project winner announced
This week, our eighth MS MasterClass shared their practical projects and then voted for the most innovative, interesting or inspiring amongst them. A joint project by Dr Ioana Cociasu, Clinical Fellow in Neurology, St George’s Hospital and Ruth Stross, MS Nurse Specialist, Surrey Downs Health and Care was voted as the overall winner. They mapped […]
Stress: today’s health epidemic?
There is more evidence than ever to suggest that many disease-related risk factors are modifiable – or can be changed – to improve outcomes, and a number of them are lifestyle related. However, stress is fast becoming one of the top lifestyle risks for a whole host of conditions. From triggering relapse in multiple sclerosis […]
First ever NICE guidance on cannabis-based medicinal products
NICE has published its first ever guidance on cannabis-based medicinal products. NG144 has just been published this November and outlines guidance across 4 key areas (fig 1): chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, chronic pain, spasticity, and treatment-resistant epilepsy. The National Council of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have examined the evidence for the use of both […]
Request for interest in developing an educational training programme for SMA
We are seeking nominations to assist us in the design and development of a MasterClass programme to meet the education and service development needs of clinicians (Doctors, Physiotherapists, Occupational therapists and Nurse Specialists) working with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) patients. This is as a result of multiple requests from our neurologist alumni who have attended […]
Neuropharmacy intermodule project winner announced
Our first Neuropharmacy MasterClass intermodule projects were presented and voted as the group met for their second module. Having looked extensively at multiple sclerosis (MS) and headache in module one, the delegates met for another two-day residential focussing on epilepsy and Parkinson’s. During the course, delegates were invited to present posters outlining the key findings […]
MS Academy in the ACNR
The Advances in Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation journal (ACNR) have published a piece on the MS Academy’s second meeting, which was held between 8–9 July, to tackle MS service variation in the NHS. The article introduces a three-year plan and an actionable to-do list infographic about our workstreams to highlight what improvements need to be made within […]
MS Specialist Nurse vacancy in Oxford
The MS Academy would like to advertise a job opportunity within the Oxford region. Oxford University Hospitals are looking for an exceptional candidate to join their well established service. As a specialist nurse your responsibilities will include: Undertaking nurse-led clinics to support symptom management, co-ordination treatment pathways for patients receiving disease modifying therapy. Delivering high […]
New roles for new ways of working
The way that we work must change, we have heard time and again throughout this work to tackle MS service variance. Some of that change can mean utilising previously untapped resources, drawing on outside teams and expertise, or even developing new roles. The role of the neuropharmacist is one that is rapidly changing, with neuropharmacy […]
The audit so far and a call to arms
Audit, the act of examining, measuring and comparing, is the ultimate in information finding. It is essential to understand the current situation and to know whether improvement is being made over time. When we first set out to tackle service variance in MS, we heard about the necessity of audit and quality improvement tools in […]
Effective provision and monitoring of DMTs
There has been a huge focus on the safety and efficacy of both provision and monitoring of disease-modifying therapies for MS over the past few years, and with the dramatic increase in the variety and availability of the treatment it is unsurprising. At the first MS Variance event we heard from neuropharmacist Rachel Dorsey-Campbell on […]