0151 298 2999On Friday December 16th, 2011, the National Audit Office published a report on the Department of Health's National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions, and its effect on services for people with neurological disorders.
Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, said:
"Services for people with long-term neurological conditions are not as good as they ought to be, despite a large increase in spending. Progress in implementing the Department's strategy has been poor and local organisations lack incentives to improve the quality of services."
"It is not clear how lessons will be learnt and there are risks to services which the Department must address to ensure that care improves."
Despite the introduction of the Framework in 2005, progress has been poor, and there are still significant problems with current services. In important ways, care for people with neurological conditions has worsened. The number of people admitted to hospital as an emergency has increased significantly.
Many patients, following their diagnosis, are not given information on their condition, about local services or on available support. Ongoing care is fragmented and poorly coordinated and there is a pattern of patients being referred to hospital for treatment, then discharged and then referred to hospital again. The NAO also found that there is poor coordination between health and social services.
The National Audit Office's full report is available online at http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/1012/neurological_conditions.aspx
The Royal College of Physicians also reached similar conclusions in a report earlier this year http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/press-releases/neurology-services-not-meeting-patients%E2%80%99-needs
The MS Society, Parkinson’s UK, Motor Neurone Disease Association, and the Neurological Alliance are urging the Government to create a targeted and properly resourced national strategy for neurological conditions.
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