Guernsey appoints first dedicated occupational therapist for motor neurone disease patients
- Dawn Spindler appointed as Guernsey's first dedicated motor neurone disease clinical specialist occupational therapist
- Two-year post fully funded by Guernsey Motor Neurone charity in partnership with Health & Social Care
- Role took 18 months to develop and will provide specialist support from diagnosis through to end-of-life care
- Ms Spindler will focus solely on MND patients, providing assessment, anticipatory planning and personalised intervention
- Organisers hope the post will become permanent within core HSC services once its impact is demonstrated
A specialist occupational therapist has been appointed to provide dedicated support for islanders living with motor neurone disease, marking what organisers say is a significant advancement in care provision.
Dawn Spindler has taken up the newly created role of clinical specialist occupational therapist for MND, a two-year post fully funded by Guernsey Motor Neurone in partnership with Health & Social Care.
The appointment, which has been 18 months in development, represents a collaborative partnership between the third sector charity and HSC. Ms Spindler, an experienced occupational therapist within the adult community disability team, already works closely with adults who have complex neurological needs.
The new role enables her to dedicate her expertise solely to those diagnosed with MND, providing specialist assessment, anticipatory planning, equipment and environmental support, and personalised intervention from diagnosis through to end-of-life care.
Ms Spindler said: "I feel deeply honoured to step into this role. People living with MND face rapid and profound changes and having the time to work alongside them and their families - anticipating their needs and supporting their dignity and independence - means a great deal.
"I'm grateful to Guernsey Motor Neurone for making this possible and I'm committed to developing a service that makes a real difference."
Elaine Burgess, director of care delivery for HSC, said the appointment strengthens support available for people living with MND during a period when timely, specialist intervention can have a significant impact on quality of life.
"We are pleased to work collaboratively with Guernsey Motor Neurone and to welcome Dawn into this important role," she said.
Susie Hunt, press and publicity officer for Guernsey Motor Neurone, said securing the post had been a long-standing priority for the charity.
"MND can progress quickly and families often need urgent, expert support. Being able to fund a dedicated specialist - someone who already understands the challenges faced by our community - demonstrates what can be achieved when the third sector and HSC work closely together. Our hope is that this role becomes a permanent part of Guernsey's care pathway," she said.
The intention is that, once the impact of the role is fully demonstrated, the post will continue as part of core HSC services.
The creation of the MND clinical specialist occupational therapist reflects a shared commitment to providing compassionate, evidence-based care for people affected by motor neurone disease in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
Q&A
Q: Who is funding the new MND occupational therapist role?
A: The two-year post is fully funded by Guernsey Motor Neurone charity, with the intention that it will become part of core HSC services once its impact is demonstrated.
Q: What will the specialist occupational therapist do?
A: Dawn Spindler will provide specialist assessment, anticipatory planning, equipment and environmental support, and personalised intervention for MND patients from diagnosis through to end-of-life care.
Q: How long did it take to develop this role?
A: The role has been 18 months in development and represents a collaborative partnership between Guernsey Motor Neurone and Health & Social Care.
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