Cerebral Palsy: Health Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing regular health reviews for adults with cerebral palsy.
Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson
The Government is committed to ensuring that people living with cerebral palsy have access to appropriate support and services throughout their lives, enabling them to fulfil their potential and lead healthy, productive lives.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on cerebral palsy in adults, which is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng119
The NICE guidance recommends that commissioners and service providers should develop pathways that allow adults with cerebral palsy access to local networks of care, with access to multi-disciplinary team and specialist neurology services. The guidance also recommends that people with cerebral palsy should have an annual review of their clinical and functional needs, carried out by a healthcare professional with expertise in neurodisabilities. This review should consider mobility, communication, pain, mental and physical health, and any new or changing support needs.
In August 2025, NHS England updated its service specification for specialised adult neurology services. The specification defines standards and care pathways for neurological conditions like cerebral palsy. The specification also requires systems to organise services on a population‑health basis, ensuring that patients have equitable access to general and specialist neurology services and that care is provided as close to home as possible, with oversight from multidisciplinary teams.
The 10-Year Health Plan sets out a vision for a health and care system that delivers more personalised, integrated, and proactive care for people with long-term and complex conditions, including cerebral palsy. By 2027, 95% of people with complex needs should have an agreed personal care plan. These will promote shared decision-making and access to personal health budgets, giving individuals more choice and control over therapies, equipment, and support tailored to their needs. Additionally, integrated neighbourhood health teams will bring together professionals across disciplines to deliver joined-up care for people with long-term conditions, including cerebral palsy.
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