We are pleased to share that we have awarded a grant of £35,000 to Great Ormond Street Hospital to establish a dedicated clinic for children who are non-ambulant (no longer able to walk). The grant supports the post of Senior Physiotherapist Nicola Burnett (pictured) and has enabled more than 80 patients to be seen in the clinic so far.

“Thanks to the funds provided by the DRF, we at the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre have been able to establish a new joint multi-disciplinary clinic,” says Dr Anna Sarkozy, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at GOSH. “This clinic includes physiotherapy assessment and advice alongside the doctors’ clinical review, and it is dedicated to young people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who are non-ambulant. In particular, with this help we are now able to provide a more complete and regular clinical service to families and patients, and continue with six-monthly physiotherapy assessment for all boys with Duchenne around and after loss of ambulation, up until transition to adulthood.

“Since the grant was awarded, we have seen more than 80 patients in this clinic. We are also looking more in detail into upper limb strength using physiotherapy tools and scales to assess function in the upper body. We are keen to further develop this new clinic and make it a permanent part of the service we provide at GOSH, and further improve the care we provide to our young patients and their families.”

Click here to learn more about the non-ambulant clinic and about Nicola’s experience of working with Duchenne patients.