Health Minister announces consultation on Neurology services
Date published:
We can and must do more to help people with a neurological condition, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has said.
The Minister was speaking as he launched a public consultation on the final report of the Regional Review of Neurology services, which he also published today.
In a Written Ministerial Statement marking the publication, the Minister said the report’s recommendations provided a roadmap to deliver an ambitious, long-term plan to drive improvements in services.
“Today I am publishing the final report of the Neurology Review and launching a public consultation on the report’s analysis, key findings and proposed recommendations to drive improvements in future services,” the Minister said.
“It is clear that there is a long path ahead to ensure that people with neurological conditions in Northern Ireland have equitable access to responsive, person-centred and sustainable services.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity and it is critical that people engage with the consultation to inform a final Action Plan.”
The Minister said the report’s analysis of current services was sobering and the scale of improvement needed was substantial.
He welcomed the vision outlined in the report that Neurology services should be person-centred, joined-up, responsive and suitably resourced.
Four priority areas with supporting recommendations have been identified to support the delivery of the vision contained within the report.
These are:
- Making Neurology a person-centred service;
- Developing additional workforce capacity within Neurology;
- Addressing gaps in current services;
- Using current resources more effectively
The Minister also noted that, while there will be an ongoing focus on using current neurology resources more effectively, the full implementation of the report’s recommendations will require significant additional funding.
“The current constrained budget environment means that it will be highly challenging to find additional funding for this in the short term. Therefore, I will need to secure significant additional funding in future budget exercises to take this forward. However, I will carefully consider funding to implement the Neurology Review in the context of competing priorities and future budgets made available to my department.” he added.
The consultation will close at 5pm on 6 August 2025.
The Department is hosting a number of public engagement events to support the consultation at several locations across Northern Ireland over the coming months. These events will provide the opportunity to present the analysis, findings and proposed recommendations set out in the report; ask questions from an expert panel, and support and promote engagement in the consultation.
Notes to editors:
- The Neurology Review report, consultation documents, details of the public engagement events and details on how to respond, can be found at https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-regional-review-neurology-services-final-report
- The Minister’s Written Statement can be found in full at https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/doh-ministerial-announcements-and-statements-2025
- In the context of a significant shortfall in outpatient clinic capacity, challenges in terms of waiting list size, length of wait and the vulnerabilities in Neurology Services, the Department established a Regional Review of Neurology Services in December 2018. The Review was tasked with identifying the optimum configuration of adult Neurology Services for the next 10-15 years.
- Completion of the Review was delayed due to the redeployment of resources in response to COVID-19 pressures. Capacity within the Neurology workforce to lead on aspects of the Review also constrained progress.
- The Department has been committed to ensuring the voice of people with neurological conditions and carers informed the Review. The Chair of the Northern Ireland Neurological Charities Alliance (niNCA) joined the Review Team at the outset. In addition, we engaged directly with service users through the Patient and Client Council Neurology Engagement Project during the course of the Review.
- For media enquiries please contact the DoH Press Office by email pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.
- Follow us on X @healthdpt and linkedIn Department of Health NI | LinkedIn
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service For Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.