Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Type 1 emergency departments in England currently operate without an on-site neurology service.

In 2021, NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme shared its national specialty report for neurology following deep dive visits to all 24 neuroscience regions, then to the 67 trusts that together deliver neurology services to 139 sites.

Data from the report shows that 28% of emergency admissions were at N4 sites, sties with a visiting neurologists only and no on-site service, and a further 4% at N5 sites, sites with no visiting neurologists.

Building on the recommendations in the GIRFT national report, the NHS England Neurology Transformation Programme is developing guidance to support integrated care boards and service providers to deliver services for patients with acute neurological conditions efficiently and equitably.

Earlier access to expert opinion improves outcomes and allows earlier discharge, reducing lengths of stay and inpatient care costs. Many admissions are potentially avoidable if appropriate ambulatory admission avoidance pathways for acute neurology are put in place.