Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department and NHS England are taking to increase the number and availability of hydrotherapy pools for people living with (a) neuromuscular and (b) other long-term debilitating conditions.

Since 1 April 2013, NHS England has been responsible for commissioning specialised neurological services, which includes services for patients with neuromuscular disorders. NHS England has published a service specification for neurological care, which sets out what providers must have in place to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services. The specification can be found at the following link:

www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d04-neurosci-spec-neuro.pdf

Specialised neuromuscular care may include referral to local or specialised physiotherapy, hydrotherapy or rehabilitation if appropriate. Provision of hydrotherapy services is a matter for the local National Health Service and may be accessed by patients with neuromuscular and other long-term debilitating conditions, subject to assessment and referral.

Neuromuscular patients may also be referred for enabling equipment such as wheelchairs adaptations and environmental controls in line with their clinical commissioning group or specialist rehabilitation referral criteria, subject to the complexity of need.

NHS England is currently undertaking a review of wheelchair services, led by Rosamond Roughton, National Director of Commissioning Development, which will consider provision across both specialised and non-specialised wheelchairs.

NHS England has set up strategic clinical networks (SCNs) for neurological conditions to provide clinical expertise and guidance. Alongside SCNs, Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs) are working with commissioners, providers and patients to ensure the delivery of safe and effective services across the patient pathway and help secure the best outcomes for all people with neurological conditions. Providers are at liberty to set up an ODN for neuromuscular services if they consider it would benefit service provision locally.