Why are we calling for a Neuro Taskforce?
1 in 6 people in the UK live with a neurological condition but there simply aren’t the workforce or services in place to support them.
Addressing common problems
We are calling on UK governments to back the 1 in 6 and establish a Neuro Taskforce to address common problems faced by people affected by neurological conditions: the lack of mental wellbeing support, delays to treatment and care, and a lack of information and support at diagnosis.
There are currently a variety of initiatives that seek to address shortcomings in treatment, care and support for people affected by neurological conditions.
Bringing together multiple initiatives
These include the planned UK wide Acquired Brain Injury Strategy, the Scottish Government’s Framework for Action on Neurological Care and Support, a new quality statement and operational plan for neurological conditions in Wales, an ongoing Neurology Review in Northern Ireland, the NHS Scotland Centre for Sustainable Delivery Neurology workstream, the NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) neuroscience transformation programme and the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) adult neurology, stroke and neurosurgery reports.
Increasing collaboration
At present there is insufficient coordination of such initiatives, little leadership or prioritisation at the highest levels of government to support their implementation and very limited opportunities to share learning across systems. Responses to My Neuro Survey highlighted many common challenges in improving access to treatment, care and support for the 1 in 6 people in the UK who live with a neurological condition.
Creating a solution
The Taskforce would provide a framework to support greater collaboration and sharing of best practice in the approaches taken to tackle these common problems. It would build on similar policy approaches in health and care, such as the recent Rare Disease Framework and associated implementation plans.
Fundamentally, and most importantly, it would help to show that governments across the UK are listening to people affected by neurological conditions.
