Service framework threatened by shortage of neurologists
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《英国医生杂志》
The shortage of neurologists and the absence of dedicated funding threaten to undermine the UK government's national service framework on long term conditions, experts have warned. The mandatory framework, published last week, sets out 11 quality standards for developing integrated services in England, to provide care for patients from diagnosis to death and support for family and carers.
A boy has his brain monitored with electroencephalography. The framework should ensure that patients in England receive joint health and social care plans and regular needs assessment
Credit: SPL
Although the framework applies to all long term conditions, it focuses on long term neurological disorders, which are estimated to affect around 10 million people in the United Kingdom, including 200 000 to 400 000 with epilepsy, 50 000 to 60 000 with multiple sclerosis, and 420 000 with brain injury.
Some of the new services will include flexible joint health and social care plans, regular needs assessment, single point of access, and self referral back into the system rather than reliance on a GP.
But the plans will depend on much closer collaboration across the NHS and with other sectors than at present. Ian Philp, national director of older people's services, and Kathryn Hudson, national director of social care, have been appointed jointly to drive the plans forward. A network of neurology experts will also advise on implementation.
Charities and lobby groups have welcomed the framework, but there are concerns that it will be insufficiently resourced.
Commissioning bodies have 10 years to implement the framework fully, but the government has said that there will be no additional funding. Community care minister Stephen Ladyman said: " have the resources to be getting on with it," adding that the framework would save money.
But Professor Christopher Kennard, president of the Association of British Neurologists, told the BMJ that there was a shortage of neurologists. There are 375 whole time equivalent consultants in England, but a minimum of 950 is needed, he said.(Caroline White)
A boy has his brain monitored with electroencephalography. The framework should ensure that patients in England receive joint health and social care plans and regular needs assessment
Credit: SPL
Although the framework applies to all long term conditions, it focuses on long term neurological disorders, which are estimated to affect around 10 million people in the United Kingdom, including 200 000 to 400 000 with epilepsy, 50 000 to 60 000 with multiple sclerosis, and 420 000 with brain injury.
Some of the new services will include flexible joint health and social care plans, regular needs assessment, single point of access, and self referral back into the system rather than reliance on a GP.
But the plans will depend on much closer collaboration across the NHS and with other sectors than at present. Ian Philp, national director of older people's services, and Kathryn Hudson, national director of social care, have been appointed jointly to drive the plans forward. A network of neurology experts will also advise on implementation.
Charities and lobby groups have welcomed the framework, but there are concerns that it will be insufficiently resourced.
Commissioning bodies have 10 years to implement the framework fully, but the government has said that there will be no additional funding. Community care minister Stephen Ladyman said: " have the resources to be getting on with it," adding that the framework would save money.
But Professor Christopher Kennard, president of the Association of British Neurologists, told the BMJ that there was a shortage of neurologists. There are 375 whole time equivalent consultants in England, but a minimum of 950 is needed, he said.(Caroline White)