National Service Framework (NSF) for Long-term conditions
The Department of Health launched the NSF for Long-term conditions on 10 March 2005. This NSF focuses specifically on the needs of people with neurological disease, brain or spinal injury.
This NSF follows a different format from previous NSFs. It does not have targets but rather focuses on 11 quality requirements, with patient centred care underpinning all the quality requirements. Full implementation of the quality requirements would result in significantly improved care for everyone with MS.
The launch of the NSF, aligned to the NICE MS Clinical Guidelines, offered hope for people with neurological conditions that after far too long services would be restructured and people with MS could expect a fairer deal. Implementation has however been very disappointing with much of the impetus being lost due to reorganisations of the NHS, budget restrictions and a lack of understanding by NHS commissioners.
The MS Trust is very unhappy about the lack of implementation of the NSF and NICE MS Clinical Guidelines and is working both alone and with the Neurological Alliance to register our concerns. To analyse the implementation to date the MS Trust is working with the Royal College of Physicians to research implementation across England and Wales.
The Therapists In MS group has produced a publication around the NSF entitled Therapists in MS - delivering the long-term solutions. This publication launched in the House of Commons in 2006 outlines how therapists can make the quality requirements reality for people with MS.
Ten quick wins
The Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) have worked with the Department of Health to develop the 10 Quick Wins booklet and poster to support the implementation of the NSF for Long-term neurological conditions.
CSIP is a body set up by the Department of Health to support the implementation of national policy for local benefit.
Neurological competencies for health professionals
Aligned to the NSF the Department of Health in conjunction with Skills for Health has devised a framework for the health professionals who work with people with long-term neurological conditions. This framework is designed to set standards for the knowledge and skills base of all health professionals working in this area.
Neurological competencies for MS specialist nurses are being prepared currently and will be available later this year aligned to the new NHS structures and the Knowledge and Skills Framework.