Fiona Armstrong, MBChB, MRCP {2010), FRCA, MSc,
PGCert MedEd.
Salford Care Organization within the Northern Care Alliance NHS Trust, England
“Anesthesia and Improving Care for Patients with Learning Disabilities and Neurodiversity”
Watch Webcast
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Objectives:
- Improve understanding of difficulties patients with neurodiversity and learning disabilities face accessing healthcare
- Provide a toolkit of adjustments to techniques, procedures, and services to help reduce anxiety for these patients and facilitate care provision
- Emphasize the key role of the anesthesiologist as a patient advocate in terms of best interest and practical decision-making for patients who lack capacity
- Share real-life experiences from UK practice in managing these patients
Fiona Armstrong is a consultant anaesthetist at Salford Care Organisation within the Northern Care Alliance NHS Trust in the North West of England. She graduated with MBChB (Hons) from Sheffield University in 2007. She completed her Anaesthetic CCT in the North West of England in 2020 after completing a fellowship and MSc (Distinction) in Healthcare Leadership (University of Birmingham) from 2016-2018. It was then that she developed an interest in improving services for patients with learning disabilities.
As a consultant, she has taken on the lead role for patients with learning disabilities and neurodiversity, leading many quality improvement projects locally, including the development of a unique home sedation service. She has been involved in updating national guidelines and creating educational programmes both for formal e-learning nationally and for the regional multidisciplinary team specifically focusing on care of patients with learning disabilities and neurodiversity.
Interesting fact:
Fiona was also GB team doctor for the Special Olympics World Games in 2019 and has a son with a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder.