In February the Care Quality Commision published a consultation Assessment of quality in 2010/11, which includes neurology as one of the subjects for their future special review programme. The consultation can be viewed here and is open until 27th April. The National Neurological Alliance (NA), of which SWANO is a member, sees the opportunity as an important one and seeks to maximise its potential on several levels:

• The NA will be prepare a national response working with key stakeholders and professional groups where possible, such as the Association of British Neurologists.
• The NA is encouraging people affected by neurological conditions to respond individually with personal stories, such as first hand experiences of local health and social care services where they feel that quality could be improved. There is helpful guidance on the NA website, which can be viewed here.
• Regional Neurological Alliances, of which there are sixty-seven, are being encouraged to develop local responses. The NA will circulate a draft national response by the 5th March.
• The NA hopes to encourage health and social care professionals to respond and is urging alliance members to use contacts with doctors, nurses, therapists and social workers etc to make the case for a CQC review of neurology.

It is important that all responses address both health and social care services as the CQC regulates both and will prioritise special reviews that cross both sectors.

Download the NA's CQC Special Review Briefing Paper for Regional Neurological Alliances here

Across the NHS South West, there are estimated to be nearly one million people living with some type of neurological condition. Check out the figures here: