Charity offers GPs training to spot early MND signs

Andy Vaughton. Credit: Deborah Johnson Photography

By Neil Pooran, PA Media

GPs, dentists and other healthcare professionals are being offered training to recognise potential early signs of motor neurone disease as part of a new programme.

The charity foundation set up by Scotland rugby star Doddie Weir, who died after being diagnosed with MND, is launching the first programme of its kind in the UK.

Called RACE to Diagnose, it will offer guidance to healthcare professionals who may encounter patients with early signs of the disease.

The training programme also shows professionals how to explain an urgent referral without causing unnecessary alarm, and what clinical details to include so specialist teams can assess and prioritise the patient.

Jessica Lee, director of research at the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: “MND is not common, its early signs can vary considerably and there is no single test that tells you conclusively that someone has it. That means people can move between different parts of the healthcare system before they reach the right specialist.