Our multidisciplinary team provides excellent clinical care as well as advice, support and education to patients, families and health and social care professionals dealing with motor neurone disease (MND).
We run three clinics at Seacroft Hospital each month, in addition to seeing patients in a variety of hospital, community and home settings.
We aim to help patients, families and medical professionals understand MND and inform them of the services available at the centre.
Patients have the opportunity to see a number of different professionals, with all their care coordinated through the centre by an MND Care Centre Coordinator.
The centre is nationally recognised for its clinical services, education, and service development, keeping our patients at the heart of all we do.
Meet our team
Each member of the MND Care Centre team performs a vital role in treating and caring for their patient. In the following videos hear from members of the team as they explain their work and what makes excellent patient-centred care.
Meet the MND Care Centre team: Fiona Powell – Neuro Physiotherapist
My name is Fiona Powell, and I’m a neurophysiotherapist. I work one day a week with the MND (Motor Neurone Disease) team. My role primarily focuses on helping patients maintain mobility and independence for as long as possible. This involves giving exercise and postural advice and collaborating with orthotics to provide support, such as collars and leg braces.
A significant part of my work is focused on postural support for patients. Whether someone is sitting in an armchair or using an electric wheelchair, proper sitting posture is crucial for enabling them to stand and walk. Everything is interconnected—if a patient doesn’t have a good chair, they tire more quickly, which can affect their ability to eat and engage in other activities.
My role also impacts families, as the goal is to ensure the best quality of life for the patient, helping them achieve what matters most to them. It’s a very personal approach, especially in a setting like a Motor Neurone Disease Centre.
I believe having a dedicated MND centre would make a significant difference. Currently, the facilities available to patients are inadequate. For example, there is a lack of privacy and poor toileting facilities. Some patients avoid drinking before their appointment to prevent needing to use the restroom, and our treatment rooms are often too small to accommodate family members or individuals in wheelchairs. The long distance from the car park to the clinic also poses a challenge.
Having a clinic specifically designed for MND patients would reduce stress and fatigue, which are major issues for them. From a physiotherapy perspective, it would be immensely helpful to have equipment, such as recliner chairs, that patients could try before they need them. This would ensure the right equipment is in place at the right time, improving the patient’s overall care and quality of life.
Meet the MND Care Centre team: Corinne Spence – Specialist Wheelchair Therapist
My name is Corinne Spence, and I am the wheelchair therapist in the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) multidisciplinary team. My role makes a significant difference to patients and families by providing mobility solutions when they’ve lost their ability to move. We work closely with patients from the start of their diagnosis to ensure they receive the appropriate wheelchair in a timely manner, which can mean the difference between being housebound or maintaining independence. With the right wheelchair, patients can continue to go where they want and choose how they get there.
Initially, some patients may only need a chair for occasional use, and we can provide that without issue. However, we also practice advanced prescribing, where we provide a higher-spec wheelchair than they currently need. This proactive approach ensures they are not caught in a situation where they urgently need a wheelchair and can’t get one in time.
The most important aspect of my job is providing the best patient experience possible. This includes showing patients all the equipment available, allowing them to try different chairs, and discussing their environment and specific needs. Many people think wheelchairs are much larger than they actually are, so it’s important for them to see how the chair will fit into their lives.
The best part of my job is seeing the positive impact the right wheelchair has on a patient’s life—it truly makes everything worthwhile.
Having access to the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease would be life-changing for many patients. Currently, our clinic is based at Seacroft Hospital, which lacks specialist equipment and an environment tailored to their needs. A dedicated centre where patients can easily see all the specialists and access the right equipment would make an immeasurable difference.