This page is part of the
MND Professionals' Community of Practice.
After the success of previous years, we are excited to announce that on Tuesday 7 October 2025 we will be back at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham for our fourth Annual Networking Day.
This event provides a unique opportunity for the MND Professionals’ Community of Practice members to connect and collaborate with colleagues from across England, Northern Ireland and Wales to expand their knowledge on MND care.
Hear what past attendees said about the event here.
This year’s theme is “Supporting choice and control for people living with and affected by MND”. Through presentations, group discussions and hands-on demonstrations, participants will actively explore how to help the people in their care make informed decision and understand their rights.
"Everyone deserves an opportunity to make choices” – attendee at last year’s event
The day will start with a keynote speech by Dr Brian Dickie, MBE Chief Scientist at the MND Association, followed by a self-care session led by Dr Emily Mayberry, Senior Clinical Psychologist and Dr Rachel Woolrich, Clinical Psychologist.
You will then have the opportunity to choose between several sessions. These will be led by subject experts and designed to build your competencies in topical areas of MND care, including:
- I know what would be good to know!
- New pathways for eating and drinking (with acknowledged risk) and management of secretions
- Crisis is a legitimate decision
- I didn’t sign up for this! Caring for carers
- Assisted dying – ethical, emotional and professional challenges
- Genetic toolkit: developing patient decision aids around genetic testing for people living with MND
- Let your yes be yes….supporting choices when mental capacity is impaired
- Competent and in control of your CPD!
Throughout the day, participants will have opportunities to network with a vast range of professionals and exhibitors, ensuring you’ll leave with valuable skills and knowledge to apply to your practice. Read the full of programme of the event.
Attending members of the Community of Practice will also have the chance to present a poster on a case study, a project or a new service. If you are interested in sharing a presentation, please email [email protected].
Book your place at the link below and enter EARLYBIRD on the booking form to access our discounted rate of £35 - valid 31 August.
Previous events
2024 - What matters most? Optimising quality of life for people living with MND, individual priorities and effective, person-centred care
“Every session gave me an opportunity to reflect on the implications living with MND had on everyday quality of life and not just focusing on symptoms” - attendee
Over 160 health and social care professionals joined our event to explore how to navigate risks and decisions to maximise quality of life for people with MND. Professor Eneida Mioshi delivered a keynote speech titled “Behavioural symptoms triangulated: perspectives from the family, the view of healthcare professionals, and the evidence from the research literature.”. Dr Caroline Barry followed up with a brief session on understanding mental capacity in the context of MND.
During the day, participants attended several sessions to discuss with their peers about MND care, including nutrition, orthotics and maintaining relationships with loved ones. They also participated to hands-on demonstrations of equipment and met with various exhibitors, such as REMAP, whose mission is to design equipment to support people to live independently.
2023 - Supporting people living with MND through advance care planning: a role for the whole MDT
“Mind blown but excited to see my patients now with up-to-date info!” - attendee
Attended by over 125 health and social care professionals, the event followed Adam, a person living with MND and his family’s journey. In groups led by the CoP expert core, attendees considered how to approach advance care planning and how to support decision making.
The keynote speech was delivered by Dr Trish Sealy, expert in consultant palliative medicine at the South Tees Hospital. Throughout the day, the participants joined various practical demonstrations, including of respiratory equipment, PEG and RIG insertion and exercises for people with MND. There were also a number of exhibitors, including Accora, Countour886, Precise Health Ltd and Tobii Dynavox.
Read the event’s programme
2022 - Communicating for great care, patient quality and learning
“Good MND care is based on input from multiple healthcare disciplines. This event was a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues and meet new people working in MND” - attendee
2022 saw the launch of our first face to face networking event. Attended by over 100 members of the Community of Practice, the day included speeches from Professor Steven Bloch, Professor of Communication and Social Interaction at UCL, and Kate Jackson, Independent Occupational Therapist.
The event also included exhibitors and six workshops delivered by subject experts, covering topics such as dysphagia, end of life, posture management and selfcare for health and social care professionals.