Over 10,000 people in England call for a neuro plan now!

21/10/2026

Over 10,000 people signed our open letter calling on the government to commit to a national neuro plan and over 40 organisations support the call. Yesterday we delivered it to government.

Campaigners came together to hand deliver the open letter to Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Our open letter tells the government why it must commit to a national plan for neurological conditions.

Indu, who lives with a neurological condition, spoke about why she signed the open letter. She said:

“Equity of choice is really important. We have already seen what a lottery it is to get certain treatments depending on where you live. This is such an unfair system. The NHS is currently crumbling due to lack of joined up strategy. Let’s not repeat that pattern.”

Speaking about the hand-in, Jon, who also lives with a neurological condition, said:

“I signed the open letter because I feel strongly that the current generation of people who’ve been diagnosed with MS [and other neurological conditions] and future generations should get the best possible treatment and support as soon as possible so that they can stay in work and education.”

The open letter follows the work we carried out with the MS Society.  Together with people affected by neurological conditions, patient organisations and professional bodies we developed the case for a dedicated Modern Service Framework for neurological conditions.

A Modern Service Framework (MSF) is a plan built around national standards and clear accountability. The UK Government has already committed MSFs for other conditions. We’re calling for that same long-term commitment to improving care and treatment for neurological conditions.

Sam Mountney, Head of Policy and External Affairs at The Neurological Alliance said:

“Alongside the more than 10,000 people who signed the open letter, we’ve bought together a powerful coalition of more than 40 patient organisations and professional bodies who are ready to help develop a deliver a Modern Service Framework.

This is a pivotal moment for neurological treatment and support. Advances in treatments and diagnostics and the opportunities of digital innovation offer a vital opportunity to transform care for millions of people affected by these conditions. Without a national plan, there is a real risk that these developments will be unable to deliver the change we need to see.”

We need to government to join us, back the one in six people living with a neurological condition and deliver a Modern Service Framework.

Peter Lloyd, Senior Policy Manager at the MS Society, said:

“Right now, neurological services are overstretched, with access varying widely across the country. Many people wait more than a year to see a specialist. Others must travel miles from where they live to access the services they need.

And too many people with MS are reaching a crisis point, resorting to A and E because they don’t have access to the right care soon enough.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. The evidence is clear. And we are asking the government to work with us to change this. An MSF for neurological conditions would be a first but crucial step to addressing these problems and delivering change for people with MS and other neurological conditions.”

With the right neuro plan in place through an MSF and a shared ambition, we’re confident that the government could deliver:

  • improved access to the support and services that people with neurological conditions need to live well. This could reduce avoidable health crises and avoidable emergency admissions by 30% by 2035
  • improved outcomes tackling unwarranted variation across neurology services 
  • better access to services closer to home, reducing the burden of travel and making care more equitable
  • economic benefits, supporting more people with neurological conditions to live well. And helping those who care for them to stay in work or education for longer
  • We’re campaigning to improve care and treatment for everyone affected by neurological conditions.

Together we are stronger

We are campaigning for a Modern Service Framework for Neurological Conditions in England and will update as the campaign continues. While our work focusses on England, we also work together with alliances in all four nations to improve workforce, services and support for the neurological community throughout the UK, including through the UK Neuro Forum.  

Learn more about our work

The government now has an opportunity to make a real difference to people living neurological conditions. Sign up to our newsletter to learn more about our work.