Neurological Diseases: Health Services
(asked on 29th May 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the MS Society and Neurological Alliance’s report entitled Neurological Conditions: The Case for a Modern Service Framework, published in May 2026, what steps he has taken to ensure there is national accountability and sustained focus on (a) MS and (b) all neurological conditions.
In August 2025, NHS England updated its service specification for specialised adult neurology services, following extensive consultation. The service specification includes guidance on both the specialised and core neurology services that should be available for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and those with neurological conditions more broadly. The service specification outlines that specialised neurology centres must include access to treatment services for MS and have clear pathways for access to disease-modifying therapies. The service specification is available at the following link:
The Government is taking forward work to improve neurological services through national programmes like NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time Programme and the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, which aim to reduce variation and deliver more coordinated, person‑centred care.
The Government will continue to consider evidence and proposals to improve care for people with neurological conditions as part of wider health system reforms, including those set out in our 10-Year Health Plan.
As part of the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is developing a programme of modern service frameworks (MSFs) which will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery. The first wave was agreed as cardiovascular disease, sepsis, and severe mental illness. The second wave has now been agreed as frailty and dementia, children and young people, and palliative care and end of life care.
The Government will consider other long-term conditions for future waves of MSFs. The criteria for determining future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity.
We welcome the joint report published by the MS Society and the Neurological Alliance and will carefully consider the case that the report makes for an MSF for neurological conditions.