This section on the Multidisciplinary Team is written by Dr Orla Hardiman, Consultant Neurologist, Director of the Beaumont Hospital MND Clinic.

The multidisciplinary team comprises a group of clinical professionals with specific expertise in MND, who work as an integrated unit and whose aim is to provide flexible and rapidly accessible care for MND patients and their families. The type of multidisciplinary expertise required by patients will vary depending on the stage of the illness, which can be roughly divided into 3 components: .

1. The diagnostic and early disability phase: Breaking bad news, education and accessing services
2. The disability phase: Coping with the burden of disease and burden of care, palliation of symptoms, facing existential concerns.
3. Terminal phase : alleviating suffering and maintaining dignity and quality of life; making end of life decisions