Going further together I am delighted to welcome you all to the MND Association’s national education conference for health and social care professionals. All of you here play a vital role in improving the care and quality of life of people with MND and we are committed to helping you understand the disease and the complex needs of those who have it.

Our commitment Association Strategy: Strengthening professionals ability to treat and care for people living with MND Earlier this year the Association launched a new five year strategy, which sets out what we must do to fulfil our mission. One our objectives is to establish a programme of education for professionals to raise their awareness of the latest developments in MND treatment, specifically targeting areas of identified need. This conference is one example. Also in 2017, we have collaborated with colleagues from the University of Edinburgh to deliver nine advanced masterclasses which enabled nearly 250 professionals to learn to administer the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen. Due to demand, there are plans to run more masterclasses next year and we will be extending these to include respiratory management in MND. We have introduced an education bursary for professionals who support people with MND and also circulate a monthly e-newsletter with all the latest news and events. If you would like to receive this direct to your inbox, complete one of our reply cards on the information stand.

NICE Guideline on MND www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng42 We are delighted professionals now have an evidence-based guideline on which to base practice. In 2016 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published the NICE Guideline on MND, which provides recommendations on assessment and management of the disease. It aims to improve care from the time of diagnosis, and covers information and support, organisation of care, managing symptoms and preparing for end of life care. In your delegate packs you will find a handy pocket guide which summarises the main recommendations and explains what people with MND should expect. The Association has also produced a tool – Transforming MND Care – which helps services to audit the support they provide against the guideline and plan cost effective improvements. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng42

Practical solutions At last year’s education conference, professionals told us they wanted to know more about practical solutions to help people with MND. We listened and have included two interactive workshops in today’s programme. These will consider assessment and management of communication and nutrition and the importance of equipment and adaptations in promoting independence and quality of life. You can also learn about a range of equipment and technology solutions by visiting our exhibition stands.

The feeling you are not alone. Connecting The feeling you are not alone. Our members tell us they value feeling they are not alone. MND can be devastating, not only for the person affected, but for their families and carers as well. We recognise it can also be challenging for professionals and later this afternoon we will hear about the importance of looking after ourselves and each other.

People with MND tell us they want to be connected with the Association and they want professionals to tell them about us. We understand too much information may be overwhelming for some at diagnosis, but please share our MND Connect helpline number so that people can get in touch if they want to. We provide a wide range of information for people living with MND, their families and carers (including children and young people) and you will find examples of these on our information stand today and many are also available on our website. Resources for people with MND, their carers and families: www.mndassociation.org/careinfo  

Further information http://www.mndassociation.org/forprofessionals/ Our provision includes information and education resources for professionals which can be accessed via the link on this slide. We hope you enjoy the day and share your learning with colleagues back in the work place. Your feedback is important to us, so please let us know what you think of the event before you leave. Thank you.