TY - JOUR T1 - Motor neuron disease specialist palliative care: impact of COVID-19 pandemic JF - BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care JO - BMJ Support Palliat Care DO - 10.1136/bmjspcare-2021-003343 SP - bmjspcare-2021-003343 AU - David J Oliver AU - Idris Baker AU - Christina Faull AU - Claire Stockdale Y1 - 2021/10/14 UR - http://spcare.bmj.com/content/early/2021/10/14/bmjspcare-2021-003343.abstract N2 - The multidisciplinary care of people with motor neuron disease (MND), also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is now widely established and recommended in several guidelines.1 2 However, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected most services, as hospitals across the world have struggled to cope with increased admissions, including intensive care, for people infected by COVID-19. The effect of the pandemic on the care of people with MND has been assessed as part of a wider survey of care.An online survey was undertaken to ascertain the involvement of specialist palliative care services with people with MND in the UK from September to December 2020, including a question exploring the effects of COVID-19 on services. The details of the survey were distributed by the Association for Palliative Medicine, which represents doctors working in palliative care in the UK and Ireland. Consent was assumed if the respondent started the survey.Eighty-six specialists responded—representing about 40% of the specialist palliative care units in the UK. Ninety-seven per cent of respondents were involved in the care of people with MND. The majority of services (79%) saw patients when there were specific needs or at any time in the disease progression. Only a small number were involved in care solely at the end of life.Services had been greatly disrupted due to the pandemic. Sixty-two (72%) of the … ER -