NeuroFest November 2020: Assessing the Need for Neurological Services

Our NeuroFest took place from 11^th – 18^th November 2020 and allowed participants to discuss key topics and to hear from experts, including people living with neurological conditions.

For this session of NeuroFest on 16th November we considered how to influence neuro service delivery and which key pieces of data and evidence are needed.

Panel

Chair – David Garmon-Jones, Trustee of the Neurological Alliance

Julie Riley, Divisional Director of. Operations Neurology, The Walton Centre. The Walton Centre is the only specialist hospital trust in the UK dedicated to providing comprehensive neurology, neurosurgery, spinal and pain management services. Julie is right at the heart of that of divisional director. Link to Youtube

David Setters, who lives with Motor Neurone Disease spoke about his work as a campaigner. He worked with his local Motor Neuron Disease Association (MNDA) MND Association staff representative to obtain a  “specialist neurological practitioner/MND nurse” in place in his local area. Link to Soundcloud 

Geraint Fuller, consultant neurologist and clinical lead for the Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) neurology programme. He has been Chair of the Specialty Advisory Committee for Neurology that oversees neurological training in the UK, and was President of the Association of British Neurologists from 2013 to 2015. Most recently he has toured the country to understand more about the variation that exists between neurology services, and how this might be addressed. Link to Youtube

Rohit Shankar MBE, a Consultant Developmental Neuropsychiatrist and medical lead for the adult learning disability services for Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Most recently, Rohit has lead the development of ‘Step Together’, good practice guidance for services for people with learning disability and epilepsy. Link to Youtube.

Slides

20201116 Assessing Need for Neurological Services

Outcomes and Next Steps

The ‘Step Together’ guidance has now been published.

The GIRFT Neurology report will be published in 2021.

Here at the Alliance, we are actively engaging with NHS England and NHS Improvement’s proposals on the establishment of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). In particular, we will be submitting a response to the NHS England and NHS Improvement consultation on this issue early in the year. We will also work with partners from across the sector to raise relevant issues about the proposals as they are legislated for in 2021.

Together with the National Neuroscience Advisory Group (NNAG), we will be developing tools and support for our members to engage with ICS’, including optimised pathways for neurological conditions. We will also continue to engage with NHS England and NHS Improvement at a national level through the neuroscience transformation programme and the neuroscience Clinical Reference Group, to ensure the needs of people with neurological conditions are reflected in their work.