First reported 22 Apr 2016•Latest report 11 Sep 2024
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in neurology service capacity that delay or restrict timely specialist assessment, including long-term consultant vacancies, insufficient consultant or wider clinical staffing, unsafe appointment backlogs, limited service availability and resulting gaps in specialist assessment or follow-up.
Not included
Excludes generic medical staffing shortages without a specific neurology-service capacity or timely neurology-assessment connection.
Excludes failures in neurological referral pathways, diagnostic interpretation or treatment after timely neurology assessment has been obtained.
Excludes general outpatient waiting-list deficiencies that do not specifically concern neurology service capacity.
Excludes non-neurology specialist services and isolated individual appointment delays without a continuing neurology-capacity deficiency.
Reports
5
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
9
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2016–2024
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
18
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Department of Health and Social Care2
NHS England2
Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership1
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust1
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board1
Executive non-departmental public body2
Ministerial department2
Health-system partnership1
Integrated care board1
NHS trust1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Absence of a face-to-face neurology service at some sites
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Rochdale does not require inpatient neurology ward reviews because it is non-acute and has no demand; 24/7 on-call neurology advice remains available.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardNo action considered necessaryThe respondent said that no further action was needed.
Essex
Concerns raised3
Chronic staffing shortages across neurology doctors, nurses and administrative staff
Unsafe backlogs for neurology first and follow-up appointments
Insufficient national neurologist capacity relative to demand
This report raised 12 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Establish neurology medical staffing with four consultants and three specialty doctors, with annual staffing-needs review.
Stated by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 6 March 2024.
Action
Appoint two nursing posts within the neurology team.
Stated by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 6 March 2024.
Action
Increase neurology administrative support and obtain additional funding for administrative staff in the Multiple Sclerosis service.
Stated by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 6 March 2024.
Action
Conduct a GIRFT review visit to Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust’s neurology department.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 6 March 2024.
Action
Deliver the Long Term Workforce Plan, expanding domestic education, training and recruitment while improving culture, leadership and staff wellbeing.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 6 March 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
The Trust considers its neurology staffing establishment appropriate to meet service needs after staffing increases and annual review arrangements.
Stated by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation TrustExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
National guidance cannot directly address funding shortfalls or recruitment and retention challenges in individual neurology services.
Stated by NHS EnglandUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Trusts are responsible for ensuring safe staffing levels during the day-to-day operation of their hospitals.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised3
Long-term vacancy of a substantive neurology consultant post
Delays in neurology outpatient appointments
Gaps in neurology service provision
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.11
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 May 2023.
Action
Publish the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to grow, retain and reform the NHS workforce.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 May 2023.
Action
Provide three weekly consultant neurologist sessions for GP advice and guidance before or instead of outpatient referral.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 May 2023.
Action
Update outpatient referral triage criteria and introduce a pre-screen for previously known patients.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 May 2023.
Action
Monitor the waiting list and review urgent patients awaiting appointments to support prioritisation.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 May 2023.
Action
Employ a locum consultant neurologist to provide additional outpatient clinics and consultant triage.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 May 2023.
Action
Provide more than 600 additional outpatient appointments through Elective Services over 12 weeks.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 May 2023.
Action
Implement cross-site management changes offering alternative-site appointments to reduce maximum outpatient waiting times.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 May 2023.
Action
Continue developing the advanced clinical practice model in neurology with clinical nurse specialists across general and specialist services.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 May 2023.
Action
Increase advanced clinical practitioner service capacity under the developed proposal.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 17 May 2023.
Action
Maintain a weekday standard operating plan for emergency consultants to obtain consultant neurologist advice.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 May 2023.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Implementing recommended acute neurology outpatient clinics is constrained by workforce shortages.
Stated by NHS EnglandUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Significant backlogs in appointments for neurology assessment
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Increase NHS workforce capacity to address rising demand for health and care services.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2022.
Action
Commission NHS England to develop a long-term workforce plan.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 October 2022.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Insufficient availability of specialist neurological care
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
Barts Health NHS Trust is responsible for addressing local neurologist availability and staffing levels.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Health Education England is responsible for planning the national neurology workforce and commissioning training places.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
National neurology waiting times meet the operational NHS waiting-time standard, so existing arrangements address the national concern.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
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Includes failures in neurology service capacity that delay or restrict timely specialist assessment, including long-term consultant vacancies, insufficient consultant or wider clinical staffing, unsafe appointment backlogs, limited service availability and resulting gaps in specialist assessment or follow-up.
