Introducing our Stakeholder Engagement Officers

We have five SEOs working across the UK with a focus on Service Improvement, Service Innovation and Professional Engagement. We look for opportunities to improve health and social care services and ways to involve the MS community to influence service design, redesign and reviews.

 Service Improvement 

Our work can vary from day to day and from area to area. It's very dependent on the needs of the local MS community. We could be working with:

• professionals on an NHS led review of neuro or MS services 
• running forums to drive improvements in an area 
• commissioning teams to help them understand MS and patient’s needs

Hearing people's experience is a very important aspect of service improvement. We link patients and carers with local MS groups and the wider MS community, to share lived experiences. We work closely with our colleagues in Evidence and are able to explore and share informative information to support change.

Part of our role is to keep up-to-date with the ever changing NHS landscape. Like the new Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) which will affect how services are planned and delivered. We've been busy working out how to best support ICS structures to prioritise neurology. So that services are provided according to national guidance and best practice. And that patients’ needs are being met.

Service Innovation

Working with professionals means that we learn about new innovative approaches to providing a service in a different way. Statutory services are under a lot of pressure, with staff shortages and increased demand. So it’s great to learn about new creative ways of meeting patient needs. And using existing resources in a more effective and efficient way.

We share examples of good and innovative practice through our Experts in MS professional network. So that professionals in other areas can learn and perhaps adopt a similar practice in their services.

Professional Engagement

Our professional network, Experts in MS, provides information, training and resources to anyone providing care and support to people with MS. That's anyone, and not just the specialists. Professionals across all services are able to develop their own understanding and knowledge of MS.

We offer a range of online training, webinars and evidence packs including around Sativex, MS awareness and fatigue management.

We want to provide the most appropriate resources to support professionals in their roles. And we welcome suggestions for future topics and ways of working together.

Thematic work

Each of our five officers cover a geographical patch across the UK. This helps to develop working relationships and allows professionals to have a named contact. We're able to get really involved in local developments. We can attend and organise meetings on a regular basis. And make sure that patients' voices are represented in key decisions.

But we also have thematic work which may take us outside of our regions. It allows us to lead on particular themes and become more exprienced in that area of work, so it makes sense to lead across the UK where possible. Examples of our thematic work include Neuro psychology and Mental Health, Neuro-rehab and Influencing ICSs.

Take a look at our dedicated web page for Professionals where you'll be able to access a range of information, resources and evidence. You can also sign up to our newsletters and joining the dedicated online forum.

We're always happy to hear suggestions for areas to focus on and develop resources for. And for professionals to share their ideas and ways of working. You can contact us on ProfessionalNetwork@mssociety