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Functional Neurological Disorder: Medical Treatments

Answer

Most services for people with neurological conditions, including functional neurological disorder (FND), are commissioned locally. Integrated care board commissioners are best placed to configure services for their populations and will be supported by clinical guidance where this is available.

In October 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published guidance, namely NG252, on rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders, including acquired brain injury. This guidance includes FND within its scope.

NICE provides this guidance to support clinicians in recognising and managing FND, and promotes a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to care, including access to psychological therapies where clinically appropriate.

NHS England has strengthened national expectations for FND care through its revised service specification for specialised neurology services, published in August 2025, which came into effect in April 2026. NHS England’s specialised neurology service specification requires all specialised neurology centres to ensure access to appropriate treatment services for FND, delivered through integrated pathways involving neurological, mental health and community services.

There are also a number of other national-level initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions, including FND, such as the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the recently completed Neurology Transformation Programme, which aimed to improve care for people by reducing variation and delivering care more equitably across England.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

8216

Session

2026-27

Subjects

Medical treatments Functional neurological disorder

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk