Royal Free Neurorehabilitation Center MS coffee mornings: a novel approach to meeting the needs of people with progressive MS


By Bhawani Devi Mainali, MS Nurse Specialist, Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust

Aim

To provide people with progressive MS with a local forum where they can access specialist advice and peer support

Headlines

The team launched a monthly coffee morning to support people with progressive MS to self-manage their condition in February 2019.

The events provide people with the opportunity to discuss issues with each other, experts, and guest speakers. They also offer people an opportunity to develop a sense of belonging and shared understanding.

Key findings

The first event attracted 15 people. Since then, 400 people with MS, 300 of whom have progressive disease, have attended the monthly coffee mornings. Forty people attend regularly.

  • The coffee mornings proved so popular that the team had to move to a larger venue
  • The number of calls to MS nurses has reduced

Recommendations

The poster recommends the team:

  • Continue to provide the events
  • Expand access to people with relapsing-remitting MS
  • Include additional activities such as Pilates and yoga
  • Share their findings with MS teams considering taking a similar approach

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