New GIRFT Clinical Leads Appointed to Drive Improvements in Neurology Services

29/07/2025

The Neurological Alliance welcomes the appointment of two new clinical leads to NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme to lead work on improving adult neurology services in England.

Dr Niranjanan Nirmalananthan (St George’s University Hospitals NHS Trust and current NHS England National Clinical Director for Neurology) and Dr Adrian Wills (Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust), both experienced consultant neurologists, take over from Dr Geraint Fuller, who retired from the role after seven years.

The GIRFT programme plays a vital role in shining a light on variation in access, workforce capacity, and outcomes in neuro services. The first GIRFT neurology report, published in 2021, is available here. 

A renewed commitment to improving services for people affected by neurological conditions

Commenting on the announcement, Georgina Carr, Chief Executive of The Neurological Alliance, said:

“We are delighted to see this renewed commitment to improving neurology services across England. We look forward to working closely with Dr Nirmalananthan and Dr Wills to ensure the voices and experiences of people affected by neurological conditions are at the heart of this work. The GIRFT programme has been an important driver of evidence-based change, and we’re keen to support its next phase.”

“We are deeply grateful to Dr Fuller for the leadership he has brought to the programme over the past seven years. Under his leadership, the GIRFT neurology programme brought national attention to longstanding issues in the system – his thoughtful and collaborative approach has helped to lay the groundwork for much-needed transformation across the country.”

The appointment of two new clinical leads to NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme comes at a critical time, as pressures on services continue to grow and many people with neurological conditions face long waits and fragmented care, as highlighted through our national neurological survey, ‘My Neuro Survey’. We remain committed to supporting the GIRFT programme and working together to drive forward meaningful change for people affected by neurological conditions.

More information about the appointments can be found on the GIRFT website here.