Wide variation in neurological care, report suggests

There is wide variation in health services for people with neurological conditions, according to a new report from the Public Accounts Committee.

The Committee criticised the services for people with these conditions, claiming they are ‘not consistently good enough’.

A survey of patients with a neurological condition found that 40 per cent think that local services do not work well together, and only 12 per cent have a written care plan to help coordinate their care.

Over four million people in England have a neurological condition, and the report warns that as well as negatively affecting patients, poor care leads to great costs for the NHS. The Committee notes that emergency admissions of epilepsy patients costs the NHS £70 million a year and suggests that a large proportion of this cost is due to shortcoming in patient care.

The report acknowledged that some improvements had been made since recommendations from the Committee in 2012, but argued that these changes ‘have not yet led to demonstrable improvements in services and outcomes for patients’ and claimed that ’it is clear that neurological conditions are not a priority for the Department of Health and NHS England’.

Meg Hillier, chair of the Committee, said: “This report serves as a wake-up call to the Department of Health and NHS England. The message from the frontline is clear and central government must listen and learn.

“Our committee heard of unsettling disparities in outcomes for people living with what can be devastating or even fatal conditions. We also heard of the huge knock-on costs the NHS can incur as a result of poor care.

“Strong, consistent leadership and accountability are crucial if patients are to see sustained improvements to services and more effective use of the resources available.

“This must start with improvements in planning, coordination and the use of data and we will be holding the Department and NHS England to account for this in the months and indeed years ahead.”