Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of NHS secondary care services to people with neurological conditions.
Answered on
15 June 2020
No specific assessment has been made.
In co-operation with the Royal College of Physicians and the Chief Medical Officer’s team, the Association of British Neurologists (ABN) published COVID-19 specific guidance for patients with neurological conditions, as well as clinicians, on 22 March 2020. The guidance identified patient groups at increased risk from COVID-19 and those for whom shielding was recommended. Early in the pandemic, the ABN recommended a reduction in face to face appointments for non-emergency care in services such as neurology, while maintaining essential care to protect patients. NHS England and NHS Improvement advised the system that in-person consultations should quickly be phased out and “should only take place when absolutely necessary”.
During the pandemic, digital and remote general practitioner consultations and outpatient appointments as means to support patients have become the norm across England. Providers have been rolling out remote consultations using video, telephone, email and text message services as a priority, including for those with neurological conditions. NHS England and NHS Improvement have also published a range of guidance for primary and community health service to identify, support and engage people, such as those with neurological conditions, during the COVID-19 outbreak, including:
- the NHS England and NHS Improvement Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) standard operating procedure: Community Health Services; and
- the NHS England and NHS Improvement Guidance and standard operating procedures General practice in the context of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Copies of these as well as the ABN guidance Association of British Neurologists Guidance on COVID-19 for people with neurological conditions, their doctors and carers are attached.