Neuro must be prioritised in elective recovery as NHS waiting times remain high
12/03/2026
The Neurological Alliance is warning that people affected by neurological conditions are at risk of avoidable harm as they continue to face long delays for diagnosis and treatment unless neurology and neurosurgery are prioritised within national elective recovery plans, following the latest NHS waiting times data published today.
Neurology and neurosurgery falling short of national waiting time targets
The latest NHS data for January 2026 shows that only 57% of neurology patients and 60% of neurosurgery patients are starting treatment within 18 weeks of referral, far below the government’s target for 65% of patients to begin treatment within 18 weeks by March 2026.
Clinical neuroscience services have faced sustained workforce shortages and rising demand in recent years. As a result, many people affected by neurological conditions are waiting far longer than recommended for specialist assessment and treatment.
For people living with neurological conditions, delays to care can lead to worsening symptoms, loss of independence and avoidable harm. Timely diagnosis and access to specialist treatment are critical to preventing potentially irreversible deterioration and supporting people to live well with their condition.
Long waits and fragile public confidence
Neurological conditions affect at least one in six people in England. Neurological conditions are conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord and or/nerves, and include conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, migraine, and cerebral palsy. There are more than 600 neurological conditions, many of which require specialist care and ongoing support across multiple parts of the health system.
Public confidence in the NHS to provide care for neurological conditions is also fragile. Polling conducted by More in Common for The Neurological Alliance shows that just half (50%) of Britons say they have some confidence that the NHS would provide appropriate treatment if they or someone they know were diagnosed with a neurological condition, while more than a third (36%) say they have little or no confidence at all.
People living with neurological conditions themselves report very mixed experiences. While they are more likely than the general public to say they have a lot of confidence in the NHS (27% compared with 14%), they are also more likely to say they have no confidence at all (8% compared with 6%), highlighting the variation in care people receive.
Although neurological conditions affect millions of people, neurological services have historically received limited strategic attention and investment, contributing to growing waiting lists, workforce shortages and wide variation in access to care.
Call for neuro to be prioritised in elective recovery
Georgina Carr, Chief Executive of The Neurological Alliance, said:
“People affected by neurological conditions are waiting far too long for specialist care, and those delays can mean worsening symptoms, loss of independence and harm that might have been avoided had they received treatment earlier.
Neurological conditions affect at least one in six people, yet neuro services remain overstretched and under-resourced. If the government is serious about reducing waiting lists, neurology and neurosurgery must be prioritised in elective recovery.
Ministers must also commit to a Modern Service Framework for neurological conditions to set clear national expectations for workforce, care pathways and access to specialist services. Without this, people will continue to face long waits and unacceptable variation in care.”
Sofia Eriksson, Association of British Neurologists (ABN), President Elect, said:
“Neurologists see the impact of long waits every day. Patients often arrive in clinic with symptoms that have progressed significantly or had a pronounced impact on day-to-day living while they waited for specialist assessment.
Improving access to neurological care would not only improve outcomes for patients but also reduce avoidable emergency admissions and pressure elsewhere in the NHS.
Prioritising neuro services within elective recovery plans is essential if we are to address these challenges.”
Learn more about our recommendations to deliver a clinical neuroscience workforce fit for the future in England here.
See the waiting times data here and the results from the More In Common polling here.
