Neurological conditions are not a priority

Commons Public Accounts Committee says evidence shows long term neurological conditions are not a priority for Department of Health and NHS England

In 2012 the Commons Public Accounts Committee made 6 recommendations on how the NHS should improve the care of people suffering from long term neurological conditions, for example Parkinsons disease, motor neurone disease, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.

In a report published on 26th February 2016, the committee emphasised the following issues:

• Over 4 million people in England have a neurological condition. 
• Services for people with these conditions are not consistently good enough
  There remains wide variation across the country in access, outcomes and patient experience.
• It costs £70 million to deal with emergency admissions of epilepsy patients and many of these admissions are likely to result from shortcomings in care. 
• Neurological services remain poorly integrated with a lack of joint commissioning of health and social care. 
• Over 40% of people with a neurological condition do not think that local services work well together 
• Only 12% of people have a written care plan to help coordinate their care.

Austin Thornton, head of heath and care at Wrigleys said:

"This report focuses on one area of practice but the problems identified are common. Avoidable admissions, the lack of co-ordination between health and social care, the absence of a formal care plan and wide variations across the country in the effectiveness of treatment are recognised issues in many areas of practice."

The full report is accessible here: Services to people with neurological conditions: progress review

March 2016