{
  "abstract": "Thomas Cox, Clinical lead for the nascent Functional Neurology Service for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight based at University Hospital Southampton and the community trust Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust. I am consultant neurologist working at the Wessex Neurological Centre, Southampton General Hospital and Salisbury District Hospital. I trained in neurology in Wessex deanery with house jobs in West and East London. I am graduate entry medic (St. George’s, University of London) having studied Experimental Psychology as an undergraduate at Cambridge University and am a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society.Lou Baker trained as a physiotherapist at the University of East Anglia almost 30 years ago quickly specialising in the field of Neurorehabilitation. She undertook her MSc in Continued Professional Development (Physiotherapy) in 2005 at the University of Nottingham. She was one of the first clinicians to receive an ‘Advanced’ practice staff badge from NHS England’s National Centre for Advancing Practice. Lou works as a Consultant Practitioner and the Trust-wide Advancing Practice Lead for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.Functional neurological symptoms are incredibly common and present frequently to general neurology clinics and to community therapy services. Although specialist services for functional neurology are needed at regional and national levels, services are also needed early, at the time of diagnosis, and locally, within the community where people live.We describe a collaborative care model for patients with functional neurological symptoms and disorder. Community therapy teams, community psychological services and neurology colleagues from the acute hospital working together to support patients in learning to live with and overcome their functional neurological symptoms.This has been pursued at a time of stringent financial controls without any additional funding. We describe the main features of the model, all of which are modelled on other services, and some early feedback. We hope that this may encourage others and demonstrate that it is possible to make positive change for this underserved patient group and support clinicians across the patient pathway, despite constrained resources. We would welcome collaboration with specialist and community services.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Consultant Neurologist and Lou Baker, Consultant Practitioner (Physiotherapist)"
      ],
      "name": "Thomas Cox"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Community FND services",
  "uid": "1c7679df-0e8e-5783-be93-ead371df5d3b"
}