NNAG welcomes the appointment of the new NHS England and NHS Improvement National Clinical Directors for Neurology, and Neurosurgery and Spinal Surgery.  In light of changes to the national leadership and clinical reference groups, as well the new commissioning structure, NNAG members agreed to wind down the activities and meetings of this group at the end of 2022.  The neuroscience community will continue to work together for a brigher future for people affected by neurological conditions.

The website and publications will continue to be available for use.  For all enquiries, please contact the Neurological Alliance.

Defining outcomes in neurology

Developing an efficient and effective set of outcomes in neurology in order to improve standards of care is a priority for NNAG.  Robust clinical, commissioning and patient outcomes within neurology are needed to support commissioning based on optimum care and to ensure that people with neurological conditions get the treatment, care and support they need. By more clearly defining what services ought to be available and when, and how they ought to be commissioned, we should be able to better tackle unwarranted variation in provision and improve treatment and care more broadly.

Neurology Outcomes Discussion (online event)

On 14th September 2021 NNAG brought together healthcare professionals, patient organisations, commissioners and leaders from across neurology to support the development of common service and patient experience outcomes for people living with neurological conditions. We asked speakers and delegates for input into what a set of suitable neurology outcomes could look like, and how to develop these to ensure they are applicable to commissioners and services alike.

You can read and download the report below.

Key points from the discussion:

  • Agreed outcome measures, implemented and used consistently across the system, are critical in addressing health inequalities, unwarranted variation and the improvement of services for people with neurological conditions.

  • The collection of outcome data must be simple and easily recorded digitally through normal clinical practice to ensure buy in from clinicians and patients. It must be underpinned by a robust, standardised system of neurology outpatient coding.

  • A multidimensional approach to an expectation framework, considering the needs of patients, clinicians, larger workforce, trusts and Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) will allow assessment of what is needed across the system to improve patient outcomes and experiences.

  • Patient co-production is critical in the design of successful outcome measures, frameworks and service design.

  • Collaboration with the neurological community, represented by NNAG, Neurological Alliance and the Association of British Neurologists (ABN), alongside the NHS England and NHS Improvement Neuroscience Transformation Programme, GIRFT, the Outpatient Transformation Programme, Neuroscience Clinical Reference Group (CRG), NHS RightCare and local ICSs, is essential for both designing and ensuring the implementation of outcome measures for neurology in the reformed NHS.

Read the report:

The Neurology Outcomes Discussions summarises the key points from the panel discussions, presentations, and breakout groups.  We also set out recommendations to be taken forward by NHS England and NHS Improvement, NNAG and the wider neurological community.

Watch the recording:

This work is greatly informed by the optimum clinical pathways which are in development.  NNAG will be undertaking further work throughout the year to develop the outcomes set as per the recommendations in the report.  

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