Specialist equipment which will offer Motor Neurone Disease (MND) patients in our area more independence, confidence and control during their illness, has been funded by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity.

The state-of-the art feeding equipment and arm supports and rests, along with pager switch systems costing a total of over £17,000, have been funded by the Charity with the support of grants from the Daniel’s and Houghton’s Charity and The Hospital Saturday Fund, alongside local community support. The equipment can be used by patients being cared for in hospital, at home or in a supported living setting.

MND patients suffer hand function loss because of the disease, making it difficult for patients to use the standard communication devices to request assistance. The specialist pager switches allow MND patients to call a nurse, family member or carer much more easily when they need assistance. The functional weakness in patients’ upper limbs also impacts on their feeding ability. Using the equipment can tailor the amount of support provided to a person when feeding. With the purchase of the feeding aids, patients who choose to use the equipment experience more independence in performing daily living functions.

MND patient Alan Towart says, “The neater eater arm support has been brilliant. It has allowed me to continue with independence while eating, feeding myself and drinking from a cup. This allows the rest of the family to enjoy their meal alongside me without the need to feed me as well as themselves. I even take it along to pubs and restaurants as it is very easy to move from table to table.” 

Dr Malabika Ghosh, Clinical Specialist in Occupational Therapy for MND and Clinical Academic Fellow in the Lancashire and South Cumbria MND Care and Research Service says, “This equipment offers MND patients more independence in daily functions which ultimately provides wellbeing and a better quality of life. People with MND feel more confident in daily living activities, and their families can feel more supported in spending quality time with them with the equipment we can now offer. Having this fantastic equipment in-house, which can be loaned to patients, will enable us to provide more choices to our patients, reduce waiting times for equipment, and will improve the overall quality of service we provide. The MND team are grateful to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity and all its supporters for funding this equipment and we know it will make a real difference to local MND patients.”