Functional Neurological Disorder
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking support patients with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a pathway of care and treatment from diagnosis of FND.
Answered by Ashley Dalton
In August, NHS England updated the Specialised Neurology Service Specification, which is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/specialised-neurology-services-adults/
The updated service specification includes specific reference to functional neurological disorder (FND). It states that all specialised neurology centres must include access to treatment services for FND. Service specifications are important in clearly defining the standards of care expected from organisations funded by NHS England to provide specialised care.
In October 2025, the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) published guidance on rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders, including acquired brain injury, with the reference code NG252. This guidance includes FND within its scope.
There are also a number of other national-level initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions, including FND, such as the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the Neurology Transformation Programme, which aim to improve care for people by reducing variation and delivering care more equitably across England.
There are a number of policies outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan which should have a positive impact on care for patients with FND. More tests and scans delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of technology will all support people to manage FND closer to home.
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