Regional Review of Neurology Services

Overview

In the context of significant pressures and vulnerabilities within neurology services, the Department established a Regional Review of Neurology Services in December 2018. The Review was tasked with identifying the optimum configuration of adult neurology services for the next 10-15 years and a clinically led Review Team was established to take this work forward.

The Review Team has completed a broad programme of analysis of current services and user experience. This included a gap and constraints assessment, a detailed analysis of inpatient activity and an assessment of workforce pressures among the medical, nursing, Allied Health Professional and psychology workforce.

The final report of the Regional Review of Neurology Services sets out the findings of this analysis and proposes a range of recommendations which are intended to drive improvements in future neurology services in Northern Ireland. The report presents the overarching vision that future services should be person centred, joined-up, responsive, evidence-based and suitably resourced to meet the needs of people with neurological conditions in Northern Ireland. To support the achievement of that vision, the report proposes specific recommendations within four priority areas:

• Priority One: A Person-Centred Service – This priority focuses on the development of person-centred care to ensure a coordinated approach to meet the needs of people with long term and complex neurological conditions.
• Priority Two: Developing Additional Workforce Capacity – This priority focuses on the development and growth of the neurology and supporting workforces in the context of significant shortages.
• Priority Three: Addressing Gaps in Current Services – This priority focuses on addressing shortfalls in current services to ensure equity of access to timely, responsive neurology services.
• Priority Four: Using Current Resources More Effectively – This priority focuses on opportunities to make better use of resources through new and innovative ways of working.

You can access the final report of the Regional Review of Neurology Services and associated consultation documentation on the Department’s website at (https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-regional-review-neurology-services-final-report).

Why your views matter

Your views are important to help shape a final Action Plan which will be developed following an analysis of all consultation responses. 

You can provide your views by completing our online consultation questionnaire. Please read the consultation document before completing the questionnaire.