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Welcome to the new WBNA website. 

If you would like to contact the WBNA please complete the contact form below and we will get back to you promptly.
We have deliberately omitted to include Committee members e-mail addresses in order to avoid unnecessary spam traffic.

Please find below updates on our current activities: 

 

Dec 2024

On 28 November 2024, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, announced the setting up of a Neuro Forum following a long-standing campaign led by The Neurological Alliance and partners to find ways to improve care and support for people affected by neurological conditions.​

The “Back The 1 in 6” campaign called on UK Governments to establish a Neuro Taskforce to address key challenges facing people affected by neurological conditions

in the UK. This forum will unite clinical leaders, organisations, and people with lived experience of neurological conditions to tackle shared challenges and will aim to drive real progress in areas where UK-wide collaboration is most impactful. It will aim to address unwarranted variation in access to care across the country, and drive person-

centred care.

 

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Jan 2025

This has been a very busy time for the Alliance with a Parliamentary reception at the Houses of Parliament attended by the NHSE medical Director. Sir Stephen Powis  and at least 35 MPs. who were asked to be Neuro Champions.

It also saw the launch of a consultation on the Draft National Neurology Specification to which the Alliance responded. The WBNA also responded based on the views of key local partners stressing the gap between the draft proposals and the reality faced by local patients on a day to day basis.

The text of the minimum service levels annexe to the draft specification can be accessed  here

June 2025 - 2024 Survey results published

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Over 10,000 people including adults, children and carers took part in My Neuro Survey 2024. The message is clear. Too many people affected by neurological conditions still can’t get the healthcare they need.

In The Neurological Alliance’s national neurological survey, My Neuro Survey, just 1 in 3 people said the healthcare they receive meets their needs. There are opportunities to change this, but we need action from government now, not words.

My Neuro Survey 2024/25 findings

The results of My Neuro Survey 2024, the largest patient experience survey of its kind, show that, in England:

  • Just 1 in 3 respondents felt the health care they receive meets their needs.

  • Almost half (48%) do not feel supported by the health system.

  • Over a quarter of people couldn’t access a neurologist or specialist nurse in the past year.

  • More than 4 in 10 said they don’t know who to contact between appointments.

  • Three quarters said their condition impacts their ability to work or study; 6 in 10 are struggling financially.

The situation is especially stark when it comes to mental health support:

  • 69% of people who needed neuropsychiatry services couldn’t access them

  • 62% couldn’t access neuropsychology

  • 48% were unable to access counselling

Despite the challenges, the survey also highlights the positive impact of good care when it is accessible. 72% of people said they felt comfortable speaking with healthcare professionals, and 57% reported that information was clearly explained.

Key recommendations

  • Tackle critical workforce shortages in neuroscience and associated specialties in the forthcoming workforce plan.

  • Ensure the NHS 10 year plan is supported by a specific implementation plan for services for people affected by neurological conditions.

  • Implement NHS guidance that seeks to ensuring no-one is turned away from mental health services due to their neurological diagnosis.

  • Build a health system architecture that provides much needed clinical leadership and delivers transformation of services for people affected by neurological conditions.

  • Draw from the extensive work undertaken within the NHS England national neuroscience transformation programme, National Neuro Advisory Group optimal clinical pathways of care and Getting It Right First Time neurology and neurosurgery programmes.

  • Unlock the potential of the UK Neuro Forum by providing dedicated, time-limited government funding to support its coordination and engagement activities.

  • Rethink and reverse planned cuts to the health and disability benefits system and ensure any changes do not negatively impact people affected by neurological conditions.

Read our reports

Download a summary of the key findings for adults, children and young people throughout the UK here.

Download the policy report here – more detail on the findings for England and our recommendations for change, based on these findings.

Download the landscape report here – further analysis with UK-wide data.

Technical report – the background and rationale for the survey, its methodology, and the findings from the survey, including answers to every question (coming soon).

Together, we’re calling on government to adopt our recommendations

We’ve sent an open letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, calling on him to adopt the recommendations for change in the policy report for England, based on the results of My Neuro Survey 2024.

The letter calls for the government to adopt recommendations from our England policy report, including:

  • Government funding  for the UK Neuro Forum

  • Specific provision for services for people affected by neurological conditions in the delivery of the NHS 10 year plan

  • The forthcoming workforce plan to tackle critical workforce shortages in neuroscience and associated specialties.

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July 2025

We’re delighted to report that 3,177 people signed the letter in support of our calls in just three weeks. We have also requested a meeting with the Secretary of State to discuss the findings of My Neuro Survey and our recommendations for change.

June 2025

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