Specialised neurology
Scope
This Transform Clinical Reference Group (CRG) covers specialised neurology services.
Membership
- Chair: Niranjanan Nirmalananthan, National Clinical Director for Neurology
- Martin Wilson, Clinical Member
- Helen Grote, Clinical Member
- Richard Grunewald, Clinical Member
- Tarunya Arun, Clinical Member
- Ruth Dobson, Clinical Member
- Jeremy Robson, Clinical Member
- Shelley Jones, Clinical Member
- Carolyn Brennan, Lead Commissioner
- Giles Ratcliffe, Public Health lead
- Georgina Carr, Patient and Public Voice representative
- Gideon Schulman, Patient and Public Voice representative
Affiliated members:
- Geraint Fuller, Clinical Lead for Neurology, GIRFT
- Richard Davenport, Association of British Neurologists (ABN)
- Samantha Millsa, British Society of Neuroradiologists
- Sam Jefferson, British Society for Clinical Neurophysiology
- Rachel Thomasson, Faculty of Neuropsychiatry
Non-core members of the group may be drawn upon for specialist advice and expertise required to deliver the key objectives of the CRG work programme.
Products
A key part of the CRG’s work is the delivery of the ‘products’ of commissioning. These are the tools used by the Regional Commissioning Teams to contract services on an annual basis.
Service specifications
Service specifications are important in clearly defining the standards of care expected from organisations funded by NHS England to provide specialised care. The specifications have been developed by specialised clinicians, commissioners, expert patients and public health representatives to describe both core and developmental service standards. Core standards are those that all funded providers should be able to demonstrate, with developmental standards being those which may require further changes in practice over time to provide excellence in the field.
The following service specifications fall within the scope of this CRG:
- Stroke thrombectomy service for acute ischaemic stroke – delivered in a non-neuroscience centre. (adults) – cross CRG work with Neurosurgery
- A Diagnostic service for rare neuromuscular disorders (All Ages)
- Neurointerventional services for acute ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke – cross CRG work with Neurosurgery
- Neurosciences specialised neurology (adult)
- Neuromyelitis optica service (adults and adolescents)
- Neuropathology
Policies
Commissioned
- Disease modifying therapies for patients with multiple sclerosis
- Infliximab for refractory or progressive neurosarcoidosis (adults and post-pubescent children)
- Intrathecal baclofen
- Levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG)
- Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke
- Rituximab for the treatment of nodal/paranodal antibody positive inflammatory/autoimmune neuropathy in adults and post-pubescent children
- Rituximab for the treatment of IgM paraproteinaemic demyelinating peripheral neuropathy in adults
- Use of therapeutic immunoglobulin in England
Not routinely commissioned
- Amifampridine phosphate for the treatment of Lambert-Easton Myasthenic Syndrome
- Fampridine for multiple sclerosis
- Rituximab for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), vasculitis of the peripheral nervous system and IgM paraprotein-associated demyelinating neuropathy (adults)
Policy statements
Policy statements are brief documents that define the current commissioning position to support service contracting.
The following policy statements fall within the scope of this CRG:
- Alemtuzumab for treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis – third cycle (all ages)
- Amifampridine (Firdapse) for lambert easton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS)
- Natalizumab-induced progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in relation to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in multiple sclerosis
- Rituximab biosimilar for the treatment of myasthenia gravis (adults)
Treatment algorithm for multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies
This algorithm provides a framework to aid decision-making for multiple sclerosis treatment, to help reduce variation in practice, and ensure safe and effective prescribing.
- Treatment algorithm for multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies
- Treatment algorithm for multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies: graphic
Other related links
Get involved
If you are interested in the work of the neurology CRG or its NPOC, you can register as stakeholder.
For details on our latest consultations please visit the NHS England consultation hub.
Get in contact
For any questions or queries relating to the work of the neurology CRG or its NPOC, please contact: england.npoc-trauma@nhs.net