NHS reforms

National Clinical Director for neurology cut as part of NHS streamlining initiative

Cutting national neurological conditions advice was necessary because of a need to streamline NHS services, Lord Prior of Brampton told the House of Lords yesterday.

Lord Prior spoke in response to a written question from Baroness Gale asking what assessment the government had made of the impact of NHS England cutting the role of the National Clinical Director (NCD) for adult neurology and national funding for neurological work by clinical networks.

Lord Prior said that Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England’s medical director, had undertaken a review of NCDs in order to streamline them as part of the Five Year Forward Review.

“As a result of the review, NHS England has proposed to change the way in which clinical advice is received in speciality areas in the future, streamlining and strengthening its clinical advisory mechanisms in support of the Five Year Forward View and the National Health Service’s key improvement priorities,” said Lord Prior.

“Whilst there will no longer be a specific NCD role for neurology, NHS England will continue to secure expert clinical advice from its Clinical Networks and through its relationships with professional bodies and by appointing clinical advisors”

He noted that the Strategic Clinical Networks will focus on national priorities including cancer, mental health, diabetes, maternity and urgent and emergency care, with a focus on cardiovascular disease transformation.

Lord Prior said that the government is putting in place replacement arrangements for the NHS to receive expert neurological advice from clinical networks, the Neurology Clinical Reference Group, Royal Colleges and the Neurology Intelligence Network, a partnership between the NHS and Public Health England.