Neurology time bomb warning from charities
17 January 2012
We've joined with the MS Society and the MND Association to warn that a
neurology time bomb will catch the NHS unawares, unless urgent
action is taken.
A crisis is looming but the Government has its head in the sand.
It's not about spending more money. It's about getting good value and quality services.
Steve Ford, our chief executive
This follows the recent National Audit
Office report which showed that services for people with
neurological conditions such as Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis (MS) and motor
neurone disease (MND) were not up to scratch.
Better neurology services
New figures show that there will be a 28% rise in the number of
people with Parkinson's by 2020 - due to ageing population
estimates - with the numbers of people with MND set to
increase by 27%.
There are also 50 new people diagnosed with MS each week. So the
problems are only set to get worse.
Our chief executive, Steve Ford, will give evidence to the
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) tomorrow - Wednesday 18 January
2012.
As chair of the Neurological Alliance, Steve will
highlight problems with current services and put forward solutions
for the future of neurology.
Steve will be speaking on behalf of Parkinson's UK, the MS
Society, the MND Association and Neurological Commissioning
Support.
Championing improvements
Our chief executive, Steve Ford, will give evidence to the Public Accounts Committee tomorrow - Wednesday 18 January.
Steve Ford, our chief executive, comments:
"A crisis is looming but the Government has its head in the
sand. When it comes to helping vulnerable people with a
neurological condition, the Government is floundering around in a
fog of its own making.
"We need a leader to champion improvements – a neurology tsar,
if you like, backed up with a plan and a strategy.
"When diabetes, cancer and stroke were assigned tsars, things
really started to happen.
"People affected by neurological conditions are fed up with
being at the bottom of the Government's 'to do' list. It is time
the Department of Health sorted out this mess.
"It's not about spending more money. It's about getting good
value and quality services."
Find out more
Read more about the story online:
Keep up to date with Steve's evidence to the Public
Accounts Committee on Parliament
TV tomorrow afternoon. We'll also keep you up to date
on Twitter.
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