To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the availability of specialist psychology care for patients attending the neuromuscular service at the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Answered on
9 January 2017
No assessment has been made. NHS England is responsible for commissioning specialised neurological services, including services for patients with neuromuscular disorders. NHS England has published a service specification for neurological care that sets out what providers must have in place to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services.
The specification can be found at the following link:
www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d04-neurosci-spec-neuro.pdf
National Health Service providers, working with local area teams, may establish patient access to neuromuscular care advisers if they consider it would benefit service provision; such decisions are a local matter.