Support for Patients with Motor Neuron Disease

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1378

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 3 OCTOBER 2022

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Dr Tan Wu Meng

MP for Jurong GRC

Question No. 3430

To ask the Minister for Health what support is available for patients with Motor Neurone Disease including (i) patients with mobility needs who cannot easily go from home to clinic for clinical consultations and (ii) patients who are on the home ventilator respiratory support service.

Answer

Patients with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) are cared for by a multi-disciplinary team, which may include neurologists, advanced practice and specialty nurses, physiotherapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and medical social workers.

Wheelchair-bound MND patients can tap on private ambulances for transportation between their home and the clinic. Special transport arrangements may need to be planned for more severe MND patients who are bedridden, on tube feeding and portable ventilator support. Those facing financial difficulties may be referred to a Medical Social Worker for help with their medical and transport costs.

The National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) also provides follow-up video consultations for some less mobile MND patients to reduce their need to travel to clinic for consultation. Home-based nursing care has also been available for stable MND patients not on ventilation support through the NNI Community Health Programme since November 2020. Under this programme, NNI has provided inter-professional training and advice to community care partners on the management of persons living with neurodegenerative conditions, including MND. These community nurses are empowered to make home visits to review patients with nursing needs such as pressure sores and feeding tube issues.

In addition, MND patients needing respiratory support can tap on the Ministry of Health-funded national Home Ventilator and Respiratory Support Service (HVRSS).  The HVRSS team from Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) provides home-based ventilation support, caregiver training, and routine follow-up for chronic conditions, including blood tests, care coordination and referrals to other specialists, thus minimizing clinic visits for the patient.