01.08.12
Reforms must address neurological conditions – Neurological Alliance
The NHS is failing patients with neurological conditions, a new report warns. Eight million people have suffered damage to their brain, spinal column or nerves – either through illness or injury – and are too often admitted to hospital as emergencies, suffer delays in diagnosis and receive too little information about their condition
The Neurological Alliance, comprised of over 70 charities, says the NHS does not take these patients seriously enough and calls for new indicators for quality of care and patient outcomes.
Spending on patients with neurological conditions takes up over 5% of overall spending on the NHS, with one in six people affected, but there is a vast variation in spending, the Alliance asserts.
The report states: “Policy levers for improving care in the new NHS landscape are not being mobilised to support improvements to neurological services.
“Five of the six key policy levers, including national outcome strategies and the commissioning outcome framework, are not currently being used to improve services for people with neurological conditions.
“Not only are emergency admissions distressing for patients and extremely costly for the NHS, but they are often an indication that conditions are not being well managed within primary care, community and social care services.”
Arlene Wilkie, the organisation’s chief executive, said: “If the NHS reforms do not address poor standards of care for people with neurological conditions, then they will fail. The Government has said that managing health reforms should be all about outcomes, but it has failed to identify the outcomes which matter to people with neurological conditions.”
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “We want NHS services to focus on what matters to people most. This will make sure that people with neurological conditions get integrated care and the support they need at the right time and in the right place.
“We are working closely with patient groups and health professionals to develop a new Long-Term Conditions Strategy. The NHS commissioning board is already planning to drive improvements to improve mental health services, dementia and neurological conditions.”
To view the report, visit: www.neural.org.uk/store/assets/files/275/original/Intelligent-Outcomes-Neurological-Alliance-MHP-Health-Mandate-report.pdf
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