Authors' objectives:

This report provides guidelines on the management of multiple sclerosis (MS) in primary and secondary care.

Authors' recommendations: Key priorities for implementation: The following recommendations have been identified as priorities for implementation. Specialised services 1. Specialist neurological and neurological rehabilitation services should be available to every person with MS, when they need them. This is usually when they develop any new symptom, sign, limitation on activities, or other problem, or when their circumstances change. Rapid diagnosis 2. An individual who is suspected of having multiple sclerosis should be referred to a specialist neurology service, and seen rapidly within an audited time. The individual should be seen again after all investigations necessary to confirm or refute the diagnosis have been completed (also rapidly within an audited time). Seamless services 3. Every health commissioning organisation should ensure that all organisations in a local health area agree and publish protocols for sharing and transferring responsibility for and information about people with MS, so as to make the service seamless from the individual's perspective. A responsive service 4. All services and service personnel within the healthcare sector should recognise and respond to the varying and unique needs and expectations of each person with MS. The person with MS should be involved actively in all decisions and actions. Sensitive but thorough problem assessment 5. Health service professionals in regular contact with people with MS should consider in a systematic way whether the person with MS has a hidden problem contributing to their clinical situation, such as fatigue, depression, cognitive impairment, impaired sexual function or reduced bladder control. Self-referral after discharge 6. Every person with MS who has been seen by a specialist neurological or neurological rehabilitation service should be informed about how to make contact with the service when he or she is no longer under regular treatment or review. The individual should be given guidance on when such contact is appropriate.

Authors' methods: Clinical guideline

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2003

URL for published report: http://publications.nice.org.uk/multiple-sclerosis-cg8

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: National Institute for Clinical Excellence

Contact Address: MidCity Place, 71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NA, UK. Tel: +44 020 7067 5800; Fax: +44 020 7067 5801

Contact Name: nice@nice.nhs.uk

Contact Email: nice@nice.nhs.uk

Copyright: <p>National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)</p>