Over 30 groups supporting people with neurological conditions have united behind a campaign to appoint a specialist within the NHS to lead its neurology provision.
The Neurological Alliance has written to Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England and NHS Improvement medical director, calling for the appointment of a national clinical director (NCD) for neurology.
The alliance said an NCD for neurology is an essential appointment to provide leadership, advice and expertise across a range of neurological conditions and neuroscience services, to help deliver the pledges of the NHS Long Term Plan.
The calls come at a time of significant change within the NHS, which the alliance – backed by 30 groups across the country – hope can help to benefit the lives of the one in six people nationally who are living with a neurological condition.
“An NCD for neurology would help to ensure the needs of people with neurological conditions are further represented at a national level and clinical leadership is further strengthened,” the alliance said.
“Appointing an NCD for neurology would also give neurology parity of leadership with other specialisms, such as stroke and dementia, for which NCDs have already been appointed.
“Various other initiatives at a national level may have an impact on services for people with neurological conditions, including a transformation programme for outpatient services. However, there is currently no clear overarching clinical or strategic oversight within NHS England and NHS Improvement of these initiatives.
“An NCD for neurology would provide clear overarching clinical and strategic oversight of these initiatives.”
Georgina Carr, chief executive of The Neurological Alliance, said: “As the NHS in England experiences some its most fundamental reforms in nearly a decade, it is essential this moment is used to embed clinical leadership in neurology within NHS England and NHS Improvement.
“The pandemic has highlighted the vulnerabilities of services for people with neurological conditions, with waiting lists soaring and a workforce under unprecedented pressure. At the same time, hugely exciting treatments and interventions which could transform quality of life for millions of people with neurological conditions are being developed.
“The appointment of an NCD, with the right administrative support and a clear ambition to work closely with people with neurological conditions and the voluntary sector, would show NHS England and NHS Improvement is genuinely committed to improving the lives of the one in six people in England who live with a neurological condition.
“We urge Professor Steven Powis and NHS England and NHS Improvement to adopt our recommendation, which over 30 patient groups support, and appoint a NCD for neurology.”
Caroline Rassell, chief executive of Parkinson’s UK, said: “As the NHS recovers from the pandemic people with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions need an internal NHS champion to ensure these major NHS transformation programmes really deliver better health and care services for people living with neurological conditions.
“We want the NHS’s finite resources to really make a difference for the neurological community now and in the future and we believe a new NCD will help raise the profile of neurological services and put the speciality on a similar footing as cancer, dementia and heart disease.”
Dr Sarah Rawlings, executive director of research and external affairs at the MS Society, added: “Despite one in six people in the UK living with a neurological condition, neurology services are stretched, underfunded and overlooked.
“Without strong clinical leadership, working together with patients, we will not see the improvements we desperately need. The appointment of NCD for neurology would be a clear indication that people with MS have not been forgotten once again.”
