This service offers comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment, treatment and follow-up to patients with spasticity at all stages of the pathway from diagnosis and education through to palliative care. The core team consists of a consultant neurologist, a clinical specialist physiotherapist and 2 clinical nurse specialists, with input from a neurophysiologist and anaesthetist.
Once a referral is received, an Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) is begun so that by the time the patient is seen in the assessment clinic information will have been collected from all health and social care professionals involved with the patient's care, and follow-up outpatient physiotherapy arranged if appropriate eg for patients suitable for botulinum toxin therapy. Use of the ICP ensures that for the majority of patients a single clinic visit is sufficient for assessment and initial management of their spasticity
A variety of treatments for spasticity are available including Botox, functional electrical stimulation and intrathecal therapies. The team has developed a number of protocols and treatment algorithms and are compiling them into a manual which they are willing to share.
The team is involved in research, and are members of the European group 'SPASM' which aims to establish best practice in the measurement of spasticity based on current knowledge and research.
Dr Valerie Stevenson, Consultant Neurologist, The National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery. E-mail: val.stevenson@uclh.nhs.uk Tel: 0207 837 3611.
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