16 January 2012 Last updated at 19:45 ET

NHS 'facing neurology disease time bomb'

By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News

Campaigners will give evidence about neurological disease care later this week

The NHS in England is facing a time bomb if it does not get to grips with neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, campaigners say.

The Neurological Alliance, which represents 70 groups, said a combination of poor services and rising case numbers was causing problems.

It accused the NHS of having its "head in the sand".

The government said it recognised that more needed to be done for people with neurological conditions.

The alliance's comments come after a report by the National Audit Office criticised the standards of care.

The study - published last month - highlighted delays in diagnosis, poor information, badly co-ordinated follow-up care and variation in access to services.

It said the situation meant too many patients were ending up in hospital as emergencies and that resulted in them being seen by staff who were not specialists in neurological conditions.

The alliance, which will give evidence to MPs on the Commons Public Accounts Committee later this week, said a higher priority needed to be given to the issue.

There are currently more than 200,000 people in the UK with long-term, progressive conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease.

But this figure is expected to rise because of the ageing population. For example, the number of people with Parkinson's - the most common of the progressive diseases - is expected to rise by a quarter to 162,000 by 2020.

'Floundering around'

The alliance wants to see a neurology tsar appointed - as has happened with stroke, cancer and diabetes - to champion the cause at a national level.

It also believes there should be expert networks of specialists co-ordinating care at a local level and action to ensure every patient gets a personalised care plan.

Steve Ford, chairman of the Neurological Alliance, said: "A crisis is looming but the government has its head in the sand.

"When it comes to helping vulnerable people with a neurological condition, the government is floundering around in a fog of its own making."

Care services minister Paul Burstow said: "We know that care for people with neurological conditions is not good enough and we must do more.

"It is clear that too many people are not getting personalised support to suit their needs."

He added the government was looking to place more emphasis on the care of people with long-term conditions through investment in services such as telehealth.