Cerebral palsy on demand

Background

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a description of a group of neuromuscular disorders which begin in childhood. It is the most common cause of neurological and motor disability in children (Ikeudenta 2020) and affects 1 in 400 children in the UK (Scope 2022). The majority of children will go on to live well into adulthood with similar life expectancies to the general populace yet often without the service and support structure to enable them to live well.

Whilst adult CP quality standards were issued by NICE in 2020, there is a lack of understanding, structure and planning to implement these at either a strategic or service level. Through education which increases knowledge and highlights priority areas to focus on, we hope to begin to improve the experiences of adults with CP across the UK.

Course overview

Led by Prof Sivaraman (Siva) Nair, a consultant neurologist with a special interest in disability management, this short, free on-demand course has been developed to provide a clear and succinct foundation in cerebral palsy (CP).

At present, paediatric services are patchy but provide good support for children with CP. However, transition to adult services can be very challenging due to a lack of knowledge and understanding, and few specific services for adults with CP. As a result, many fall through gaps in care, find themselves in emergency healthcare situations and have little social or vocational support. In some cases, paediatricians retain their patients with CP into late adult life in order to ensure they receive the services they need.

This education will increase understanding of CP with a thorough background to the condition, its treatment and management, how it affects all aspects of people's lives and how healthcare services can best support people living with it as they transition into adulthood, and throughout the length of their lives.

Who is this for?

This course is designed for healthcare practitioners working in neurology or movement disorders. This might include consultant neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, physiotherapists and other allied health care professionals, nurses and general practitioners.

How is the course taught?

The course is formed of a series of 20-30 minute presentations by each expert speaker followed by a 40 minute panel discussion between them all. A range of resources are provided for further reading and signposting.

Timeframe

This course can be accessed all at once or in twenty-forty minute bursts and will be available for 12 months after initial access.

Cost

The course is free to access for UK residents. For international delegates, there will be a small fee of £25.00.