For Patients and Visitors
What is the Service?
Northern Health runs a Progressive Neurological Disease (PND) Clinic , a multidisciplinary clinic that offers a range of interdisciplinary assessment and management services for people with a diagnosed MND. MND is the name given to a group of diseases in which nerve cells fail to work normally. These nerve cells (neurones) control the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow.
The PND clinic will also see patients with other neurological conditions and these include but are not limited to Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple System Atrophy, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Spinocerebellar Ataxias and others.
The clinic team includes: Neurology Consultant, Neurology Registrar, Respiratory Consultant, Victorian Respiratory Support Service (VRSS), Lung Function Test, and Specialist Clinic Nurse. The clinic is also supported by the Northern Health Bundoora Community multidisciplinary team including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech Pathologists, Dietitians, Social Workers, Continence Nurses and Allied Health Assistants.
What can I expect from the service?
Once the referral is received, our PND Clinic Nurse will phone you or your nominated contact person. The Nurse will ask about your needs and organise appointments with the appropriate members of our health professional team.
At the clinic, you will undergo a comprehensive assessment and recommendations are made regarding the management of your Progressive Neurological Disease. On the day of your clinic appointment, you may be reviewed by a number of health professionals depending on your needs.
If you have been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a local regional advisor from MND Association of Victoria will also attend the clinic appointments with them.
An interpreter will be available if you do not find it easy to communicate in English. If needed this should be requested in your referral so the interpreter can be booked.
After your appointment you will receive a copy of your shared care plan in the mail. With the your consent we share information with other relevant health professionals such as your GP, to ensure that we are working together to provide collaborative care.
The PND Clinic is held at Bundoora Centre once a month on Tuesday mornings.
What do I bring/need for my appointment?
Please bring:
- Medicare card
- Complete list of your medications and names of any drugs you are allergic to
- Name and address of GP and any other health professionals closely involved in your care (so that letters can be copied to the appropriate people)
- Updated referral letter from your GP if you have been notified that this is needed
- One or more family members or friends if you like
- Details of a preferred contact for your care
How much does it cost?
- No cost for attending the Progressive Neurological Disease Clinic.
- If you are referred onto additional Community Therapy Services, there may be a fee incurred of $5-10 per visit.
- If you are not eligible for Medicare the referral for the service will need to be reviewed by management
Contact us
For enquiries or referrals regarding this service please call the Community Access Service:
Telephone: 9495 3443 or Free Call: 1300 128 539
Fax: 8405 8616
Email: Community.Access.Helpdesk@nh.org.au
For Health Professionals
Service/Clinic overview
Northern Health runs a Progressive Neurological Disease (PND) Clinic is a multidisciplinary clinic that offers a range of interdisciplinary assessment and management services for people with a diagnosed MND. MND is the name given to a group of diseases in which nerve cells fail to work normally. These nerve cells (neurones) control the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow.
The PND clinic will also see patients with other neurological conditions and these include but are not limited to Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple System Atrophy, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Spinocerebellar Ataxias and others.
The clinic team includes: Neurology Consultant, Neurology Registrar, Respiratory Consultant, Victorian Respiratory Support Service (VRSS), Lung Function Test, and Specialist Clinic Nurse. The clinic is also supported by the Northern Health Bundoora Community multidisciplinary team including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech Pathologists, Dietitians, Social Workers, Continence Nurses and Allied Health Assistants.
What can be provided?
Clients undergo a comprehensive assessment and recommendations are made regarding the management of Progressive Neurological Disease. On the day of the clinic appointment, clients may be reviewed by a number of health professionals depending on their needs.
If clients have Motor Neurone Disease, a local regional advisor from MND Victoria will also attend the clinic appointments with them.
After client’s appointment they will receive a copy of their shared care plan in the mail. With the client’s consent we share information with other relevant health professionals such as their GP, to ensure that we are working together to provide collaborative care.
Inclusion criteria:
- Diagnosis or likely diagnosis of Progressive Neurological Disease, e.g. Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple System Atrophy, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Spinocerebellar Ataxias and others.
Exclusion criteria:
We are NOT able to accommodate patients with the following problems:
- Diagnosis of other neurological conditions such as stroke(consider Neurology clinic referral)
- Mechanical neck pain without clinical evidence of nerve root or spinal cord compromise
- Falls in the elderly without other neurological features (consider Falls and Balance clinic)
- Chronic pain in the absence of a neurological disorder (consider Pain clinic)
- Patients over 65 years old with cognitive symptoms (consider CDAMS clinic referral)
- Patients simultaneously referred to another public Neurology service with the same problem
How to Refer:
Referral must be from GP or Consultant/Specialist. Referral must include:
- Past medical history including Psychiatric history.
- List of current medications.
- Clear details of the symptoms including timescale
- Examination findings
- Relevant tests such as brain imaging and blood tests
- Any known drug allergies or adverse reactions
For enquiries or referrals regarding this service please call the Community Access Service:
Telephone: 9495 3443 or Free Call: 1300 128 539
Fax: 8405 8616
Email: Community.Access.Helpdesk@nh.org.au
Alternative service options:
- Calvary Health care Bethlehem (Statewide Progressive Neurological Disease Provider)
