NHS to treat neurology as a national priority
27 July 2012
People living with Parkinson's and
other neurological conditions are one step closer to gaining access
to the treatment and support they deserve, thanks to new NHS plans
announced yesterday.
This news is an absolute credit to all our campaigners and policy team working to influence the NHS to improve services for people with Parkinson's.
Steve Ford, our chief executive
The NHS announced that neurological conditions will be included
in the first of the
NHS's Strategic Clinical Networks.
Being part of a network of services like this means that
neurological conditions will have better co-ordination.
And it means that the NHS is properly held to account for the
care and treatment it provides.
Improve care and treatment
This is the first time neurology has been treated as a national
priority by the NHS.
We hope this decision will help to improve care and treatment
for the 8 million people who live with a neurological condition in
England.
Almost £3billion is spent on neurological services for these
patients every year. Yet there is no co-ordination of services and
no way for the NHS to be held to account for the quality of
services it provides.
Wake of damning reports
This announcement comes in the wake of two damning reports
within 6 months, from the National Audit Office in December 2011
and Public Accounts Committee in May
2012.
We have been campaigning for neurology to be part of a network,
as part of the Neurological Alliance.
This is an umbrella organisation that represents more than 70
organisations that work on behalf of people with neurological
conditions including Parkinson's.
The network, which will include mental health and dementia, is
one of only 4 networks announced.
The other networks are allocated to cancer, maternity and
children's services, and cardiovascular disease.
Campaigning victory for people with Parkinson's
This is the first time neurology has been treated as a national priority by the NHS.
Steve Ford, our chief executive and chair of the Neurological
Alliance, comments:
“This news is an absolute credit to all our campaigners and
policy team working to influence the NHS to improve services for
people with Parkinson's.
“It has been a hard fought battle on behalf of the 8 million
people living with neurological conditions in England.
"We will continue working with the NHS on how they implement the
networks to deliver the high quality services that people with
Parkinson's deserve."
- email
-
Share