Paediatric Neurology Project
Aim of Project:
To plan and advocate for the development, over the next 5 - 10 years, of a multi-disciplinary paediatric neurology network to provide a quality service for the PiP population.

Network meeting is held 3-4 times a year.
Lead Person:
Dr Martin Smith  (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist)   Robert Jones Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital
Team Members: 
Dr Anthony Choules (Consultant Paediatrician)   Burton Hospitals NHS Trust
Ms Alison Heard (Clinical Psychologist)   North Staffs Combined Healthcare NHS Trust
Ms Judith Houghton (Consultant Clinical Psychologist)   Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Trust
Dr Tim Martland (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist)   Manchester Children's Hospital
Mr Richard Newton (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist)   Manchester Children's Hospital
Dr John Owens (Consultant Paediatrician)   East Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Randall Pearson (Consultant Anaesthetist)   George Eliot Hospital
Dr Robert Pugh (Clinical Director)   Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Ros Quinlivan (Consultant Paediatrician)   Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Kate Reynolds (Trnsultant Paediatrician)   University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust
Dr Andy Spencer (Lead Clinician for PiP)   University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust
 
About the Project:
Paediatric Neurology was identified as one of the six priorities for service development by the founder members of PiP. Subsequently it was also identified as a priority for development across the partnership in PiP’s recommended framework for the future medical workforce following a workshop on 21st September 2000.

The neurology project was initiated in September 2001, when a working group was established and a project plan was developed. It was recognised that management support would be required to take forward the necessary information collection and analysis.

Fortunately an opportunity arose to employ two MSc students from Lancaster University who were able to, look at National recommendations and gather local information and views about the service : their work confirmed problems with current service provision and PiP’s identification of the service as a priority for collaborative action.

This afforded an opportunity to discuss this work at a Stakeholder Conference (7th November 2002) to involve a wide range of disciplines involved in caring for children with acute and chronic neurological disorders. The event also brought together commissioners, providers and parents of children using neurological services.

The report of this Conference recommended some simple low cost measures to improve the service as well as recommending an expansion in service provision as a whole. It was recognised that any development must deliver benefit across the whole partnership and this would best be secured through investment in a managed clinical network, improved organisation, protocol development and a balance of developments across the professions. A willingness to listen to the views of users and to work with them was also expressed, for example by establishing an expert patient programme.

The report has been circulated to attendees and commissioners. The next stage of the project is to look in more detail at the manpower requirements to deliver a managed clinical network and to look at the costs and benefits of delivering the service using different configurations of service provision.

The West Midlands Strategic Commissioning Group are interested in taking forward the planning of this service and a Stakeholders Conference is scheduled to take place on 4th April 2003. PiP will be working with all interested parties in considering how best to commission a paediatric neurology service.

Project News:

Cerebral Palsy Therapies Workshop

 

In September 2007, a workshop on Cerebral Palsy therapies was organised by Nicky Smith (PiP) and hosted by Dr Martin Smith (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist) at RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry. The main focus was on upper limb function in Cerebral Palsy. The conference was well attended by 60 delegates from various disciplines including Paediatrics, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy.

 The key note speakers were Ann-Christin Eliasson and Karin Shaw from Stockholm who spoke about their experience of employing Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) in children with congenital hemiplegia. In broad terms the child wears a glove on their unaffected hand whilst engaging in exercises designed to improve dexterity in the paretic hand. This is analogous with the concept of eye patching in a child with squint. There was also teaching on the objective assessment tools of hand function designed by their research group (Assisted Hand Assessment and Manual Ability Classification Score). Topics covered by other invited speakers included Botulinum Toxin, Orthotics, Brachial Plexus lesions, Gait Analysis, Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy and Intra-Thecal Baclofen. The feedback from delegates was very positive, and it is hoped next year to hold a further workshop on the Assisted Hand Assessment. 
Forthcoming Meetings: 

 

Achievements:
Multi-Professional Stakeholder Conference.
Lancaster Student Project Report Completed
Lancaster Students Commence Work
Two Lancaster students undertake to describe the current set up for the provision of services for children with neurological problems in the PiP area, to illustrate the problems in delivering the service and to canvass the opinions of professionals working in the service, as to how these problems might be overcome.
Scope of Project Agreed.

Related Papers and Reports:

Neurology Stakeholder Day

Information for Parents:
 
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