Millions of people living with long-term neurological conditions
across England face inconsistent access to vital rehabilitation
services, according to NICE.
A new draft guideline published
today (Tuesday, 8 April) aims to address this widespread
variation by recommending a standardised approach to
rehabilitation across five major neurological conditions,
including brain and spinal cord injuries.
It includes people who have been discharged from health care and
not receiving consistent or adequate rehabilitation support,
despite ongoing needs.
In the UK, an estimated one in six people, or 16.5 million, live
with a neurological condition, including acquired brain
injury.
The draft guideline aims to address variation in care provided in
hospital and community settings by recommending healthcare
professionals take a multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation
for chronic neurological disorders, including acquired brain
injury, based on a holistic assessment of each person's needs,
and could involve physical, occupational, speech, and cognitive
therapies, as well as psychological support and vocational
counselling.
"Without consistent rehabilitation support, people can experience
unnecessary decline in their condition and quality of life. This
useful and useable guideline will help ensure everyone receives
the ongoing care they need to maintain independence and
wellbeing," said Professor Jonathan
Benger, chief medical officer and interim director of the Centre
for Guidelines at NICE.
Another key recommendation in the draft guideline is for there to
be a single point of contact for people with chronic neurological
disorders, including ensuring there are complex case managers
within each of the 42 Integrated Care Boards in England. These
specialists co-ordinate care across health, social care, and
third-sector organisations, ensuring people receive the
rehabilitation services they need.
Other draft recommendations include:
- Improving assessment and referral pathways, including
re-referral for those with changing needs, so GPs and other
healthcare professionals know how and when to seek further input
from specialists.
- People with chronic neurological disorders, their families
and carers know how they can access rehabilitation services in
their area.
Dr Ian Bernstein, chair of the independent NICE guideline
committee, said: “This draft guideline highlights how
rehabilitation should be co-ordinated across health and social
care, schools, employers and voluntary sector. For people with
long-term neurological conditions, this means smoother
transitions between services and less chance of falling through
gaps in care – ultimately leading to better outcomes and improved
quality of life."
“The key to achieving integrated care are the recommendations to
assign a single point of contact for people with long-term
neurological conditions through their journeys.”
Georgina Carr, Chief Executive of The Neurological
Alliance, said: “People affected by neurological
conditions face inconsistent and variable access to appropriate
rehabilitation services. In our most recent patient experience
survey, 57% of adults and 53% of children and young people in
England told us they would like to have been offered outpatient
rehabilitation but weren't able to access it.
“This new draft guideline recognises the variation people
experience and provides an important opportunity to support
access to consistent, quality services for everybody living with
a neurological condition. We encourage the neuro community to
engage with the draft, so the final guideline reflects the
realities of living with a neurological condition.”
The draft guideline also recommends stronger collaboration
between commissioners and service providers, and improved
communication between health, social care, education, and
employment organisations.
The draft guidance consultation opens today (Tuesday, 8 April)
and closes on Tuesday, 20 May, with the final guideline expected
to publish later this year.
ENDS
Notes to
Editors:
-
The guideline covers rehabilitation
in all settings for children, young people and adults with
chronic neurological disorders.
