7. STUDY DAY - FND: Insights, Inspiration & Innovation - 1st May 2025 - MANCHESTER

Join us for an in-depth exploration of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) at our collaborative study day, designed to inspire, educate, and innovate. Hosted by DWF and CMSUK, this event brings together leading experts, clinicians, and legal professionals to provide a comprehensive understanding of FND from clinical, rehabilitation, NHS, and legal perspectives.

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Itinerary

9:30 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

Refreshments & Registration
Start the day with a warm welcome and a cup of coffee, courtesy of DWF.

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Session 1: FND Overview

Time: 9:50 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.
Speakers:

• Alan Carson (Neuropsychiatrist) – What is FND?
  A deep dive into the definition, challenges, and treatment of FND.
• Heather Batey (Reach Personal Injury) – Rehabilitation Perspective
  Transitioning from diagnosis to rehabilitation, focusing on practical applications.
• FND Hope (Charity)
  A 10-minute video showcasing their work supporting individuals with FND.

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• Coffee Break: 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

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Session 2: NHS & Treating Insights

Time: 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Speakers:

• Matt Butler (NHS Neuropsychiatrist, Kings College)
  Cutting-edge developments in NHS treatment pathways.
• Dhiren Shivji & Dr. Petrochilos (National Square)
  Discussing recent NHS advancements.
• Aaron Fobian (ReACT, USA)
  Insights into innovative FND treatments via video presentation.
• Marilyn Gullard
  Interdisciplinary treatment for FND from a UK perspective.

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• Lunch: 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
   

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Session 3: Clinician Insights

Time: 1:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Speakers:

• Ioannis Mavroudis – Functional Cognitive Disorders
  A 45-minute session addressing cognitive and physical fatigue, headaches, and treatment strategies.
• Dr. Ingrid Hoeritzauer  – Chronic Pain & FND
  A systematic review and practical insights into managing chronic pain in FND.
• Markus Reuber – Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES)
  A 30-45 minute session on PNES identification, treatment, and practical examples.

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Coffee Break: 3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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Session 4: Legal & Insurer Insights & Closing Discussion

Time: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Speakers:

• Sofie Toft (IM) – Opening perspective.
• Sarah Parker (DWF) & Sharon Lomas (Aviva)
  Litigation insights from claimant and defendant/insurer perspectives.

Panel Discussion
A concluding discussion drawing insights from the day and inviting audience participation.

We look forward to welcoming you to this thought-provoking and inspiring day!

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Meet the Presenters

Professor Carson works as a Consultant Neuropsychiatrist at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he splits his time between a general neuropsychiatry service and running an acute brain injury service in South East Scotland. He is also an Honorary Professor in Neuropsychiatry based in Clinical Brain Science at the University of Edinburgh. He is routinely involved in undergraduate and postgraduate training and teaching.  His primary research interest is in functional neurological disorders but he has been involved in projects across a range of neuropsychiatric topics. The Functional Disorders Research group in Edinburgh, which he runs along with Jon Stone and produced influential work on clinical phenotype, classification, epidemiology and treatment. It was rated as ‘internationally leading’ for impact in the 2024 Research Excellence Framework. He has published over 300 papers but his favorite is getting a ‘Jackie style’ picture story into Practical Neurology.  Along with Mark Hallett, Chief of Human Motor Control NINDS, and Jon he published what they hope will be the landmark Handbook of Neurology- Functional Neurological Disorders (Elsevier 2016). This was followed by hosting the International Conference on Functional (Psychogenic) Neurological Disorders in Edinburgh; the largest ever interdisciplinary meeting on the topic. The profits from this meeting were used to launch a new international society the Functional Neurological Disorder Society which has since hosted to further international conferences in Boston 2022 and Verona 2024; he was president from 2022-24. He holds a number of advisory posts in neuropsychiatry. He is the associate editor of Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry and was a previous President of the British Neuropsychiatry Association. He was awarded the President’s Medal of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2017 for work on functional neurological disorders, the 2025 BNPA medalist for work on brain injury, and visiting distinguished professor in neurology at the University of Toronto 2024 in recognition of work on cognition. 

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Heather Batey BHSc (Hons), Dip COT, Registered with the HPC.  Heather’s professional career spans more than 37 years within the rehab and PI sector. She has been devoted to the assessment and rehabilitation of patients with Brain Injury and neurological conditions within the Health Service, Social Services and within the Independent Sector. In 1995, she set up reach which now provides a National Home-Based Rehabilitation Service for both adults and children covering rehabilitation assessments and treatment for head trauma, concussion, moderate/severe Traumatic Brain Injury and also FND. 

As Clinical Services Director she serves as the leading clinical figure within the Business’ senior management team, embodying the company's commitment to excellence in brain injury and neurological rehabilitation, for several years she has had a keen interest in FND. Her role encompasses the development and oversight of clinical services, ensuring they meet the highest standards of practice and innovation. She is integral to the strategic direction and operational excellence of the clinical aspects of the Business.

Heather publishes and lectures on  FND and aspects of TBI rehabilitation while also being an active Trustee of a Brain Injury Charity and sitting on the board of several Clinical Society’s. When not working she can be found in the Scottish Munro’s or swimming in the northeast coastline. 

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Matt Butler is a specialist registrar in psychiatry and a doctoral clinical research fellow. Since 2018 he has worked at the Maudsley Hospital, where he obtained membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych). He is based at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (King’s College London) researching psychedelics and functional neurological disorder. He is currently undertaking a neuroimaging study of psilocybin assisted psychotherapy in FND funded by the Wellcome Trust. He is an author on over thirty peer-reviewed articles on FND and related topics, and has written a chapter on FND for an RCPsych textbook. He is lead editor of the recent Pocket Prescriber Psychiatry textbook.

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Dr Hoeritzauer is a consultant neurologist working in the NHS in Edinburgh and an NRS Fellowship and an honorary senior clinical lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. Dr Hoeritzauer has a clinical and research interest in Functional Neurological Disorders, particularly when this intersects with idiopathic urinary retention. Dr Hoeritzauer is a principal of the Functional Neurological Disorders Reseach Group along with Professors Jon Stone and Alan Carson and Dr Laura McWhirter.

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Professor Markus Reuber, MD PhD FRCP, is a Professor of Clinical Neurology and an Honorary Consultant at the University of Sheffield and the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, United Kingdom. His clinical work specializes in the treatment of patients with complex seizure disorders. In research, his primary interests lie in the phenomenology and treatment of epilepsy and functional neurological disorders, as well as the communication between doctors and patients.

Professor Reuber completed his undergraduate medical education in Cologne, Germany, and Nottingham, and underwent general neurological training in Leeds. He then returned to Germany for two years as a trainee neurologist in the Department of Epileptology at the University of Bonn. Over the past 20 years, he has worked as a Consultant or Honorary Consultant Neurologist in Sheffield, contributing significantly to the development of epilepsy surgery and neuropsychotherapy services there. Professor Reuber is the Editor-in-Chief of Seizure – European Journal of Epilepsy and was honored with the Ambassador for Epilepsy Award by the ILAE in 2021.

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Sofie Toft is a Partner at Irwin Mitchell. She represents Claimants who have suffered serious and life changing injury including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and serious orthopaedic injuries. Sofie has a keen interest and significant experience representing Claimant’s with an FND diagnosis and has a real focus on ensuring that the litigation process can be made to support people with this injury. Alongside her work at Irwin Mitchell, Sofie is a strong proponent of the use of neurologic music therapy in the rehabilitation and support of injured people. She is proud to be a a Non Executive Director of Chiltern Music Therapy.

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Paypal or BACS transfer payments accepted only.  Please enter your name and/or invoice number as reference.
Delegate passes are non-transferrable and non-refundable.  

The member rate applies to those with a paid annual membership only and not those with a pending or lapsed membership. 

If you have any questions or queries please email us info@cmsuk.org or call 01329 446959.

Venue	DWF Law, 1, 2 Scott Place, Hardman St, Manchester M3 3AA
Date	Thursday 1st May 2025 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Email	info@cmsuk.org