1,000 signatures reached
To: Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
End the NHS Care Gap for People With Functional Neurological Disorder
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care must mandate and fund a national NHS England care pathway for Functional Neurological Disorder, with guaranteed diagnosis, multidisciplinary treatment, and equal access to support in every area of England.
Why is this important?
Functional Neurological Disorder affects movement, speech, vision, pain, bladder control, seizures, and daily function. Symptoms are real and disabling, comparable to conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.
People with FND often wait years for a diagnosis. Many are told their symptoms are psychological, dismissed, or passed between services without a plan. After diagnosis, support often stops. No clear pathway. No follow-up. No specialist care.
Care depends on postcode. Some areas offer specialist teams. Many offer nothing. People manage seizures, paralysis, chronic pain, and loss of independence alone. Families often step in without training or support.
The science exists. Clinical guidance exists. Multidisciplinary treatment improves outcomes, yet access remains inconsistent.
Across the UK, people report gaps between diagnosis and access to meaningful support. This highlights the need for properly delivered, consistent care rather than guidance that exists only on paper.
This gap causes harm. People lose jobs. Relationships break down. Mental health declines. Trust in healthcare erodes.
A national NHS care pathway would change this. Earlier diagnosis. Joined-up care. Clear responsibility. Equal access. Dignity.
People with FND deserve the same seriousness, care, and respect as anyone with a neurological condition.
