Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that patients who have functional neurological disorder have access to rehabilitative physiotherapy.

NHS England’s updated Service Specification for Adult Specialised Neurology Services, published in August 2025 and due to come into effect on 1 April 2026, sets a clear expectation that neurology patients, including those with functional neurological disorder (FND), should have timely access to the full range of inpatient and outpatient specialised rehabilitation services. Service specifications define the minimum standards all commissioned providers must meet, helping ensure consistent, high‑quality care across England.

FND is also specifically included within then guideline on Rehabilitation for Chronic Neurological Disorders, reference code NG252, published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in October 2025. This guideline aims to improve access to consistent, multidisciplinary rehabilitation for children, young people, and adults with neurological conditions, including FND. We expect clinicians and commissioners to take full account of the guideline when designing and delivering services.

In addition, the National Neurosciences Advisory Group (NNAG) developed an Optimal Clinical Pathway for FND, providing commissioners and clinicians with a clear model for person‑centred, multi‑professional rehabilitation involving neurology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and psychological support. The pathway emphasises timely assessment, consistent communication of diagnosis, and coordinated rehabilitation across primary, community, and specialist services to reduce variation in access.

As part of wider community provision, NHS England’s Standardising Community Health Services framework sets out the core community health services that integrated care boards should consider, explicitly identifying community rehabilitation for people with neurological conditions as a core component of local service planning. This supports better access to ongoing rehabilitation following diagnosis.