The National Neuroscience Advisory Group (NNAG), a group of healthcare professionals, and national and local policy and commissioning leads patient groups working together to improve the quality of care for people living with neurological conditions, has launched a report which shows the far reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with neurological conditions and key services on which they rely. The report urges NHS England and NHS Improvement to urgently provide the necessary support to restore services for people with neurological conditions to at least pre-pandemic levels.

The report, which was developed using evidence collected from patient groups, NHS England and NHS Improvement key datasets, professional bodies and services, highlights:

an estimated backlog of more than 225,000 neurology appointments and 58,000 neurosurgery appointments at the end of 2020 – the winter surge of COVID cases is likely to have increased these figures
a growing number of long-covid patients who now require neurological, neurorehabilitation and neuro-psychiatric and/or neuro-psychological care to manage their symptoms and functioning
a slow down in referrals more generally. For example, specialist centres for MND have experienced an estimated 30-50% drop in referrals, leading to delays in diagnosis and support
there was already a significant shortage of specialist neuroscience professionals across the country prior to the pandemic, and redeployment to COVID-19 wards and increased pressure to reduce waiting lists are having a significant impact on the mental health of health and care professionals
the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the challenges facing rehabilitation services in particular. NHS Data shows there were 20,000 fewer outpatient appointments with a rehab consultant across all neurological conditions between March and June 2020 compared with the same period last year
new models of care, particularly remote consultations, must be rolled out carefully – evidence received from across the neurological sector suggests mixed patient experience with remote consultations, and clear concerns about the possible exacerbation of health inequalities should they become common place.