Dr. Áine Carroll:

My colleagues have alluded to the importance of a full spectrum of services for individuals with movement disorders. In my own clinical practice, as well as from a clinical programme point of view, it is very important that individuals have access to diagnosis and a full range of treatments, oral and parenteral, and then the higher-specification treatments such as deep brain stimulation. It is important that we consider the treatment of these individuals as a whole and develop care pathways that will take care of all the needs of these individuals.

The neurology clinical programme has developed a model of care which is currently under consultation. One of the care pathways is for individuals with Parkinson's disease, and DBS is part of that treatment pathway. That is the first step in identifying exactly what the pathway should be, and access to a full multidisciplinary team is extremely important for all aspects of the management of anybody with a significant movement disorder. By a full multidisciplinary team I mean physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and psychology. Individuals with a significant disability as a result of movement disorder really require access to a full multidisciplinary team. The nursing piece aspect of DBS is very important, but it is only part of the jigsaw of treatments that these individuals need access to. They also need access to rehabilitation services. In the course of my work I worked in the movement disorder service in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It was a multidisciplinary team not only in terms of specialist disciplines but also with neuro-rehabilitation, neurology and neurosurgery, with which we worked very closely in providing services to patients. What we would like to see in Ireland is access to that full multidisciplinary service for patients right along the spectrum of disability associated with movement disorders. That is what we intend to work towards.