This means people with long-term neurological conditions could be missing out on vital tests and treatment, according to the Neurological Alliance.
More than 70 per cent of those who replied to the Neurological Alliance’s survey between 9 and 20 June said their NHS appointments had been delayed, and four in 10 did not know when their appointment would be rescheduled.
Due to the risk of infection and many staff being redeployed, most face-to-face neurology appointments have been delayed or cancelled.
“For some people with a neurological condition,” the Neurological Alliance states, “missing out on the right treatment at the right time can have life-changing consequences.
“For example, advanced drug therapies for Parkinson’s only have a short window during which they can be effective, so some people could already have lost their opportunity to have a life-changing therapy.
“Certain disease modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis, which reduce relapses and slow the progression of the condition, have also been delayed or cancelled in some NHS clinics.”
Without improved capacity across neurological services, the charity warns that people with neurological conditions risk facing further, potentially life-changing, delays.
Many people with neurological conditions were advised to ‘shield’ during the pandemic, due to being high-risk. The government relaxed guidelines around shielding on 5 July, and plan to pause of from 1 August. The report, however, found that people with neurological conditions who were shielding are concerned about the risks of going out more.
Half of respondents reported finding the government’s advice on shielding to be unclear, almost a third had difficulty accessing their normal food supplies and almost a quarter had experienced difficulties getting their regular medication.
Almost one in four respondents reported feeling lonely, and one in 10 felt hopeless.
The Neurological Alliance is urging NHS England to set out plans to ensure an immediate restart of services as soon as it’s safe to do so. The charity is also calling for:
- Specialist neurology staff redeployed to COVID-19 wards to restore staffing in neurology departments to pre-Covid-19 levels
- Adequate support within NHS mental health services to deal with the immediate mental health needs of people with neurological conditions who have been shielding or self-isolating
- Patients discharged prematurely due to COVID-19 to be regularly reviewed to ensure their mobility and motor skills are not deteriorating
Georgina Carr, chief executive of the Neurological Alliance, says: “While health and care professionals have done all they can to retain some contact with people with neurological conditions during this crisis, our survey clearly shows that people with suspected and confirmed neurological conditions are being left in complete limbo while frontline services have been diverted to treat COVID-19 patients.
“This just isn’t acceptable and means thousands of people are not getting the life-changing treatment and support they so desperately need. People with neurological conditions must not be left in the dark any longer.”
