Author: Great Britain: National Audit Office

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2011-12-16

Total Pages: 48

ISBN-13: 9780102977042

Since 2005, when the Department of Health introduced its National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions, people with neurological conditions have had better access to health services; but key indicators of quality - such as the rate of emergency hospital readmissions - have worsened. The Department does not know what the Framework and additional spending of nearly 40 per cent over four years have achieved. The Framework was designed to improve care for people with neurological conditions but progress in implementing it has been poor. Access to health services for people with long-term neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease, has improved and waiting times for inpatient and outpatient neurology have decreased since 2007. The number of elective neurological operations performed has also increased. However, the rate of emergency admissions to hospital has increased significantly and there is large variation in emergency admission rates between Primary Care Trusts. Access to services for patients also varies significantly depending on where they live. Many patients, following their diagnosis, are not given information on their condition, about local services or on available support. Ongoing care is fragmented and poorly coordinated and there is a pattern of patients being referred to hospital for treatment, then discharged and then referred to hospital again. The NAO also found that there is poor coordination between health and social services. The number of adults with a physical disability receiving social services has fallen since 2005-06, because fewer people are now eligible for these services