The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued an important update after more than 16,000 people signed a petition demanding ‘dignity’ and ‘proper care’. The parliamentary campaign is pushing for increased appointments and enhanced GP training related to functional neurological disorder (FND), a condition that pertains to issues with how the brain processes information.
In response, the Government acknowledged that FND is a ‘complex condition’ and that more needs to be done to improve services for those living with the disorder. Consequently, it pledged that ‘improving care for people with long-term conditions is a key priority’ and detailed the measures being taken thus far.
“Improving health outcomes for people living with long-term conditions, including functional neurological disorder (FND), is a key part of the Government’s ambition to build an NHS fit for the future,” the DHSC said on November 19. “The Government recognises that FND is a complex condition, involving a range of neurological symptoms without a clear cause, which can impact on an individual’s life significantly.
“FND can be difficult to diagnose, as well as to treat, as its wide variety of symptoms can make it hard to find effective interventions. The Government recognises that there is a need to do more to improve access to services for people living with conditions such as FND.
“This is why improving care for people with long-term conditions is a key priority for this Government and the NHS, and we are committed to ensuring they receive high-quality care and support and access to the latest treatments. The recently published 10 Year Health Plan for England will ensure a better health service for everyone, regardless of condition or service area.”
Unlike numerous other neurological conditions, FND involves alterations in how the brain’s network functions, rather than physical changes to the brain’s structure itself. This can have a profound effect on someone’s everyday life, with symptoms frequently including episodes resembling seizures, problems with movement, difficulties with speech, and pain, amongst other signs, according to the National Institutes of Health.
On a national scale, the DHSC said there are presently multiple initiatives supporting improvements to services and enhanced care for patients with neurological conditions, including FND. This includes the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the Neurology Transformation Programme, which were created to improve patient care by ensuring more consistent service provision across England.
Beyond this, the DHSC continued: “In addition to this, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has developed guidance on rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders. The guidance, which was published on 15 October 2025, emphasises a holistic approach and focuses on individual needs and promoting independence and well-being.
“Specifically, it recommends a multidisciplinary team approach, a single point of contact for coordination of care, and access to various therapies like physical therapy, occupational therapy and psychological support.”
The department also added: “NHS England has recently published a new service specification covering the provision of specialised neurology services for adults, which routinely diagnose and treat individuals aged 16 and older with suspected or confirmed neurological conditions.
“The new specification includes FND as a major area of adult specialised neurology activity that must be provided at each specialised neurology centre, including assessment, formulation, and treatment planning for patients who have not sufficiently benefited from first-line management within core neurology services.”
Nonetheless, the DHSC clarified that the responsibility for maintaining training standards for GPs and other healthcare professionals lies with the independent statutory regulatory bodies. It also stressed that, once qualified, health professionals are responsible for maintaining their clinical knowledge and identifying their learning needs through ongoing professional development.
The response added: “To increase understanding of FND among GPs, the Royal College of General Practitioners has produced a learning course, which includes a module on recognising and explaining FND, which can be found at: https://www.rcgp.org.uk/learning-resources/courses-and-events/elearning-courses.”
The petition, entitled ‘Fund better Functional Neurological Disorder care, treatment and support’ has now garnered more than 16,000 signatures. If it reaches 100,000, it will be considered for a debate in Parliament.
You can read the petition and its response in full here.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
