National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions

National Service Frameworks (NSFs) are outline plans for care, aimed at driving up quality and reducing variations in health and social care services. There are a total of nine NSFs covering areas such as cancer, coronary heart disease, services for older people, and diabetes.

The National Service Framework for Long-Term Conditions was published in March 2005. Its focus is neurological conditions. According to the Department of Health, this NSF aims to transform the way health and social care services support people to live with long-term neurological conditions.

Although MND is not normally regarded as a long-term condition, the NSF specifically mentions it as one of the diseases covered. There are also separate sections in the NSF that deal with the specific needs of people with rapidly progressing conditions, such as MND.

The NSF sets out Quality Requirements (18 kb) , including examples of good practice. These describe the services the NHS and social services need to provide. It also aims to reduce differences in the treatment, care and support people receive now, because of where they live or because of their cultural background.

The NSF's aims

The NSF's aims (22 kb) apply to health and social services working with local agencies involved in supporting people to live independently, such as providers of transport, housing, employment, education, benefits and pensions.

Quality requirements

There are 11 Quality Requirements (18 kb) (QRs) in the NSF.

How we use the NSF

We will be using the NSF to achieve our objectives in our four key areas of support:

Multi-disciplinary teams
Respiratory and ventilatory support
Equipment provision
Palliative care

Implementation

Local NHS and social services are responsible for reviewing their services to see if they already meet the Quality Requirements (18 kb) in this NSF. They will need to get the views of local people with neurological conditions and their families and carers, as well as the views of voluntary organisations and health and social care professionals. This will help them to decide their local priorities for making changes and improvements, to meet the Quality Requirements in full over the next 10 years.

What the Association is doing

We have produced a leaflet for the NHS and social services setting out our views on the NSF and the ways in which we believe we can assist them in implementing it in their area. We are in a position to offer them support and advice backed up by both evidence and our extensive experience. Through our Branch network, we are also able to help local health and social services consult local patients and their families in their area.

We are also producing guidance for our local Branches on how they can get involved in influencing the NSF in their local area.

At a national level, the Association is represented on the Department of Health’s NSF Stakeholders’ Group that meets regularly to discuss broad implementation issues.

For further information

For more information please contact the Public Affairs Team on 01604 611842.