The National Care Service needs a blueprint, a schedule and a budget
By Tanith Muller Chair Neurological Alliance of Scotland
About 1 in 6 of us has a neurological condition that has a significant impact on our lives. And people with neurological conditions need an effective National Care Service.
As a rule, if your condition involves the brain or nervous system, things can be difficult. You might have physical and sensory impairments, communication issues or severe pain. Seizures, problems with thinking, mental ill health and fatigue are also common. Some neurological conditions are terminal, many progressive or lifelong. And for too many people, treatments are limited.
Back the 1 in 6
The Scotland report to the National Neurology Patient Experience Survey has now been published. We are grateful to the 834 people in Scotland who took part in the survey, sharing their experiences about living with a neurological condition.
Our findings show that:
- Nearly half of adults and over half of children experienced delays accessing a routine neurology appointment
- Five times more children were awaiting diagnosis than adults
- Delays are contributing to a mental health crisis
- 4 in 10 adults say their mental health needs are not being met 'at all'
- Receiving a life changing diagnosis is scary, and yet a fifth of adults and a quarter of children said they received no explanation about their condition.
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