Practical action needed now: Alliance report outlines vision for neuro neighbourhood health

08/07/2026

The Neurological Alliance has today published A Vision for Neuro Neighbourhood Health, setting out a blueprint for delivering integrated, specialist-informed care closer to home and calling for neurological conditions to be explicitly included in the Government’s neighbourhood health programme.

At least one in six people in England live with a neurological condition, yet too many experience fragmented care, poor coordination between services and long waits for specialist support. As the NHS shifts towards neighbourhood health and care closer to home informed by the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, the report highlights a significant opportunity to improve care by embedding neurological expertise throughout neighbourhood services.

A vision for neuro neighbourhood health

The Government’s Neighbourhood Health programme aims to bring health and care services together around local communities, delivering more joined-up, proactive care closer to home while strengthening prevention, improving coordination and reducing avoidable hospital care.

The Alliance’s vision sets out how integrated neurology systems can connect neighbourhood, community, specialist and supra-specialist services through shared care, multidisciplinary working, outreach, virtual multidisciplinary teams and specialist community services. This would enable people to receive coordinated care close to home while maintaining access to specialist expertise throughout their lives.

Neighbourhood health must work for people with neurological conditions

Neurological conditions are among the largest and most complex areas of health need. They often require coordinated support across multiple services including primary care, community services, specialist neurology, rehabilitation, mental health, social care and the voluntary sector.

Drawing on evidence from My Neuro Survey, stakeholder interviews and work with healthcare professionals, people with lived experience and Alliance members, the report demonstrates how implementing effective neighbourhood health for people affected by neurological conditions can improve continuity of care, strengthen prevention, reduce avoidable hospital admissions and make services easier to navigate.

The report concludes that implementing effective neighbourhood health for people with neurological conditions is “not a niche issue but a test of whether the NHS can deliver integrated, person-centred care for people with complex, long-term needs”.

A blueprint for action

The report sets out practical recommendations for government, NHS England and local health systems. These include developing a Modern Service Framework for neurological conditions, investing in the clinical neuroscience workforce, strengthening Integrated Neurology Systems, embedding neurological conditions within neighbourhood health plans, appointing named neurological leads within Integrated Care Boards and recognising voluntary sector organisations as core partners in neighbourhood health delivery.

Georgina Carr, Chief Executive of The Neurological Alliance, said:

“Neighbourhood health has the potential to transform care for the one in six people in England living with a neurological condition. However, neurological conditions are not currently explicitly recognised within the national Neighbourhood Health Framework. That makes it even more important that integrated care systems ensure neurological conditions are embedded as neighbourhood health is implemented locally.

People have told us time and again that they want joined-up care, delivered closer to home, with seamless access to specialist expertise whenever they need it. Our vision shows how this can be achieved through specialist-connected neighbourhood care.

The opportunity is here. We now need national and local leaders to work with the neurological community to turn that ambition into reality.”

Read the report

The report has been developed to support integrated care boards, neighbourhood health leaders, provider collaboratives, clinicians and voluntary sector organisations as neighbourhood health is implemented across England. Read the report, A Vision for Neuro Neighbourhood Health, in full here.