Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 20 December 2016 to Question 58050, on neuromuscular disorders: South East, how many neuromuscular care advisers will cover Kent, Surrey and Sussex; which clinical commissioning groups in Kent, Surrey and Sussex will be contributing to funding neuromuscular care adviser roles; when the relevant clinical commissioning groups will be meeting to finalise job descriptions and begin recruitment; and if he will make a statement.

NHS England is responsible for commissioning specialised neurological services, including some services for patients with neuromuscular disorders. NHS England has published a service specification for neurological care that includes an exemplar service specification for neuromuscular conditions that sets out what providers must have in place to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services. The service specification for neurological care can be found at the following link:

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

The responsibility for delivering the service rests with National Health Service provider organisations, and each trust will develop an appropriate role to ensure that the care pathway is delivered. The role may vary depending on the provider organisation, but an NHS England service specialist will be working with trusts to ensure that they meet the requirements of the overall service specification.