The situation around Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the risks it poses is changing rapidly. We advise visiting the following NHS Inform website for real-time updates and advice.
Clinical information provided by: Judith Newton, MND Nurse Consultant and NHS MND teams.
We are aware that many people with MND and their families are concerned in light of the current Coronavirus pandemic. People with MND are at increased risk from infection with Coronavirus. We strongly recommend that you self-isolate for the foreseeable future to ensure you avoid infection as much as possible.
If you are developing symptoms of Coronavirus:
If you develop symptoms suggestive of Coronavirus (fever, persistent cough and/or shortness of breath) then please follow the advice on the NHS Inform website, in particular when to contact the NHS 111 service. You should not attend your GP in person but should telephone from home.
To help prevent the spread of Coronavirus, the advice is:
If you are using non-invasive ventilation:
Any medications that you are presently taking should be unchanged unless otherwise advised by your doctor.
If you have specific questions regarding your care, please contact your local MND nurse who will be able to give you advice and information which takes into account your individual circumstances. They will be aware of the plans and procedures for your health board area and will be able to advise if you need to take any other additional precautions in keeping with your health board.
If you care for someone with MND:
It is important that you, as someone who is providing care for a person with MND, have a contingency plan so that the care that you deliver can continue should you fall ill or be required to self-isolate. Here are some steps that you should take now.
If you have paid carer, health and social care workers etc coming into the home of the person you care for:
If you are worried about what would happen to the person with MND should you or paid carers become ill, then contact your local MND nurse who will be able to give you advice and information which takes into account your individual circumstances. They will be aware of the plans and procedures for your health board area and will be able to advise if you need to take any other additional precautions in keeping with your health board.
Additional resources:
The Coronavirus situation is developing rapidly and we strongly recommend you check the following sources of information regularly. These sources are frequently updated.
Following the confirmation of cases of Coronavirus in Scotland, and having considered the advice of health professionals and the current government guidance, we have made some difficult decisions.
Our priority is to minimise the risk as much as possible for people with MND, their carers, supporters, volunteers and our staff and as such we are therefore taking the below steps.
We are very sorry for any inconvenience and hope you understand why we have made these decisions. We will continue to keep this page up to date as NHS and government guidance is updated.
MND Scotland Office
MND Scotland’s office has now been closed. We are all working from home, so if you require any information or support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 0141 332 3903 or email us at info@mndscotland.org.uk.
MND Scotland Services
As a precautionary measure, we have reached the difficult decision to postpone all face-to-face services, effective immediately, until at least 30th April.
Alternative ways of delivering these services, where possible, are being developed. All services which do not rely on face-to-face contact will continue as normal.
Please see below how, or if, services are changing:
Counselling
We are postponing any face-to-face counselling but will continue to provide and offer telephone counselling.
Advocacy
We will not be able to do home visits at this time. We will still support you through phone calls, email and skype.
Welfare and Benefits
We will not be able to do home visits at this time. We will still provide this service through phone calls, email and skype.
Support groups
All support groups in April and May have now been cancelled. Further groups may be affected and we will continue to update you here. We are also trialing alternative digital solutions.
Complementary therapy
This service has been postponed.
Physiotherapy
This service has been postponed.
Equipment
This service has been postponed.
Communication aids
We will still send out equipment where possible, however we are not able to go to your home for installation or repairs but will provide support via phone calls, email and skype.
Holiday accommodation
All bookings from now until 30th June have been cancelled, with the option to rebook at a later date or a full refund will be issued. Those with bookings after this date may be affected and we will keep you updated with any changes. We also have a Time Out grant which you may be able to apply for, if you wish to make other holiday arrangements. Find out more here.
Grants
This service is continuing as normal.
Information and education
Our information service is continuing as normal. Any face-to-face educations sessions from now until 30th April have been cancelled.
Fundraising events
All MND Scotland organised events will be reviewed 6 weeks before the event date, in line with government guidance at that time. For events that are organised by external parties we will take their guidance, as well as guidance from the government.
Keep up to date with all event changes here: www.mndscotland.org.uk/events-updates.
The MND-SMART team has taken the difficult decision to pause recruitment to the clinical trial. Alongside pausing recruitment, they will also be delaying the opening of new trial centres across the UK. For more information please visit MND-SMART.org.
We will continue to monitor updates and consider how they may affect people with MND, volunteers and staff.
