Neurological Diseases: Hospitals

The Government recognises that people living with neurological conditions can be at increased risk of complications, such as urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, and other causes of avoidable emergency admission, and that reducing these admissions is an important part of improving outcomes and patient experience.

We are working with NHS England to support a more proactive and preventative approach to care. This includes strengthening community-based services, improving care coordination, and supporting earlier identification and management of deterioration. Integrated care boards are responsible for planning and commissioning services to meet the needs of their populations, including putting in place pathways that help prevent avoidable admissions for people with complex, long-term conditions, including neurological conditions.

NHS England is encouraging systems to adopt personalised care and support planning, including anticipatory care approaches for people at higher risk of admission. This can involve the use of care plans, rapid access to community teams, and closer monitoring to ensure issues such as infections are identified and treated promptly, reducing the need for hospital admission. National programmes such as Getting It Right First Time and NHS RightCare support systems to identify unwarranted variation and adopt best practice in managing long-term conditions, including neurological conditions.

NHS England’s service specification for adult neurology sets out clear expectations for proactive, coordinated care to reduce the risk of avoidable complications. It emphasises early identification of clinical risks, personalised care planning, and timely access to multidisciplinary support, including specialist nurses, therapists, and community services. By promoting regular monitoring, effective management of swallowing, mobility, and bladder function, and close coordination between primary, community, and specialist care, the specification supports early intervention and continuity of care. This approach helps to minimise preventable deterioration, reduce unplanned hospital admissions, and improve outcomes and quality of life for people.

Together, these measures support local systems to take a proactive, joined-up approach to care, helping people with neurological conditions remain well in the community for longer and reducing avoidable hospital admissions.