Support and Care available to you
Provided by the local MND (Motor Neurone Disease Association) Group.
Wirral MNDA Social Support Group
This is an informal gathering for people living with MND and their families to meet and support each other. We meet on the last Wednesday of each month for a social get together at The Neston Club, Parkgate Club, House Station Road, Parkgate CH64 6QT, from 2-4pm.
Wirral Association Visitors
These trained volunteers support families to offer guidance, information and emotional support and can direct you to the relevant information and services. If you would like to have an Association Visitor allocated to you and your family then contact Debbie Williams, the Association Visitor Coordinator on 07836 635 280.
Wirral MNDA Volunteer Group
The group meets monthly on the first Monday of each month at 6.30 pm at Commerce House, Campbeltown Road, Birkenhead, CH41 9HP. We organise events to raise awareness, fundraise to support local people and research, and we campaign locally and nationally to improve services. We have an open-door policy so just turn up.
MND Wirral Web Site
mndawirral.org will keep you up to date with local activities and contacts and link you to the National Web site.
Wirral MND Key Worker
Liz Stear, based at Wirral Hospice St Johns, is available Wednesday and Fridays and can be contacted via the outpatient’s direct line 0151 482 8989 or through the main hospice number 0151 334 2778 and selecting Outpatients. Liz is available to give support to people living with MND and family from diagnosis onwards and links to other health care services. Liz works closely with Elizabeth Sirret, a counsellor based at the Hospice and who is also available to support the whole family. Liz and Elizabeth can link you in to other services provided by the hospice if this is needed.
MNDA Community Support Coordinator
Gary Birkenhead can advise you and help you access services for you provided by the MNDA. He can be contacted on 01604 800643 and gary.birkenhead@mndassosiation.org.
The MNDA National Web Site
www.mndassociation.org has a wide range of information about all aspects of MND. You will find Information, advice and a wide range of publications to help you and manage and understand the disease.
MNDA Benefits Helpline
This service is run in partnership with the CAB and they will help with giving you advice and form filling to ensure you do receive the benefit’s you are entitled to. Contact them on 08088 010 620.
MNDA Grants
There are different grants available that are not means tested and may help you. There are grants to help with Support (Care), your Quality of Life, Carers and any young people in the family. Contact debbie.williams@mndassosiation.org for details of these grants.
Support for Families and Children
We can supply materials and direct you to specialists who can support you if you have children who will help them to understand and cope with the illness.
Our National Help and Information Line is MNDConnect – Tel 08088 026 262
This is a service for all those affected by MND and offers emotional support, guidance and information over the phone to all those living with MND. They can also send out information guides on a wide range of issues relating to MND. The opening times are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and 7pm to 10.30.
GP Service
This is your first port of call for anything medical or care related. Your GP can refer you on to the specialist areas as and when they are needed. This may include Social Services Health Care professionals: NHS Occupation Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Dieticians and Physiotherapists.
Local Authorities
Local authorities help in several ways such as Social Services Care, Housing Adaptations, Housing, Blue Badges and Council Tax Reductions. The Wirral Group enjoy a good relationship with the council as they signed the MNDA Charter.
Walton Care Centre
This is where your specialist MND Multidisciplinary team are based and where you will be invited for appointments. The MND Specialist Nurses Karen Twist and Angela Harris offer a telephone advice clinic over the phone between appointments if you need it on 0151 556 4008.
Integrated Neurology Nurse Specialists (INNS)
This service covers the Wirral and the Nurse for our area is Tanya Bennett Freeman.
Wirral St Johns Hospice
The hospice offers a wide range of services including well being days, hospice at home, counselling and much more. In partnership with the Wirral MNDA the hospice provides the MND Key Work, Liz Stear (see above).
If you would like any further information or help to access any of the support and services above please contact debbie.williams@mndassosiation.org / 07836 635280.