Spasticity Academy

Spasticity is a reasonably common neurological symptom associated with a wide range of conditions, and affecting people to highly varying degrees. Because of this, much of spasticity management takes place within general neurology teams or amongst community rehabilitation teams. This means that the quality of service access is often dependent on the knowledge and experience of the individual healthcare professional.

Unfortunately, at present service provision is inconsistent and access to services highly variable. Referral to specialist services is also patchy, dependent on local care pathways and appropriate levels of knowledge as to what constitutes complex spasticity or which patients might benefit from specialist care.

By developing a strong education programme across two tiers of learning - basic and specialist - we can improve awareness and understanding in primary care, therapy and general neurology, and develop specialists in spasticity to manage complex presentations and provide expert care across the country.

For general neurology, therapy teams and primary care professionals, Spasticity Academy will:

• ensure a standardised quality baseline understanding of what a specialist service looks like, why it is needed, how to refer on, and who to refer to.

• ensure that staff providing spasticity services have improved awareness of spasticity issues and the knowledge they need to provide adequate care,

This in turn will ensure the level of care patients can access nationally improves, and the variation in services will be reduced.

For those seeking to specialise in spasticity or improve on a strong foundation of understanding, the Academy will provide in-depth education around complex management and treatment optimisation from experts in the field.