The below information is from http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/our_work/standards_and_guidelines/stnds/neurological_care_standards.aspx
General standards for neurological care and support
It is estimated that as many as a million adults in Scotland are living with a wide range of complex and life-changing neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and Huntington’s disease, as well as those affected by cerebral palsy, brain injury, nerve and muscle disorders. Neurological disease can affect people in different ways; no two people living with a neurological condition are the same. People should expect to receive the same high quality service from the health and social care organisations that support them, regardless of their condition, geographical location or individual circumstances.
In 2009, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s predecessor organisation) developed standards for neurological health services. In May 2016, the Scottish Government supported Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s commitment to review the 2009 standards. Concurrently, Sue Ryder published a report highlighting that the standards had not been universally implemented across NHSScotland, which had led to a variation in care for people with neurological conditions.
Following this we have developed general standards to ensure consistency in approach to neurological care and support services. They are applicable to anyone living with a neurological condition in Scotland. Organisations across health, social care and the third sector who support people living with neurological conditions will use the standards to demonstrate that they are delivering high quality services.
The standards will set out the same high level of care and support for all adults in Scotland regardless of their neurological condition, care setting, geographical location or personal circumstance.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland will support the neurology community to consider the next steps for the condition-specific elements in the 2009 clinical standards following publication of the general standards for neurological care and support.
Downloads
- General standards for neurological care and support: March 2019 (PDF, 1045K)
- General standards for neurological care and support - consultation report: March 2019 (PDF, 2006K)
- General standards for neurological care and support - Scoping report: March 2018 (PDF, 362K)
Scope of standards
The Healthcare Improvement Scotland general standards for neurological care and support apply to all health and social care services and organisations that support adults in Scotland living with a neurological condition.
The standards cover the following priority areas:
- leadership and governance
- working together
- staff education, training and information
- diagnosis
- assessment of needs
- treatment and management, and
- person-centred care.
Summary of standards
- Standard 1: Leadership and governance - To support people living with neurological conditions, each organisation demonstrates effective leadership and governance in the delivery and management of care and support services.
- Standard 2: Working together - Organisations work together to support people living with neurological conditions.
- Standard 3: Staff education, training and information - Each organisation ensures that staff have the education, training and information to deliver care and support to people living with neurological conditions, appropriate to roles and workplace setting.
- Standard 4: Diagnosis - Diagnosis of a neurological condition is accurate, person centred, and followed by appropriate information, support and advice.
- Standard 5: Assessment of needs - People living with neurological conditions are offered a holistic needs assessment with opportunities for review as an individual’s needs change.
- Standard 6: Treatment and management - Treatment and ongoing support for people living with a neurological condition is high quality and person centred.
- Standard 7: Person-centred care - People living with neurological conditions experience high quality, well-coordinated and person-centred services.
More information
- Scottish Health Council: Gathering views on the general standards for neurological care and support
- News article: Standards published to improve care for estimated 1 million adults in Scotland with life-changing neurological conditions
- Blog: Experience counts when it comes to developing standards - Rachael Wallace