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Long-term conditions NSF: Good Practice Guide and examples

This Good Practice Guide has been written in response to requests from NHS and social service organisations to help them implement the National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions. In addition to the text of the Guide itself, there are examples of how some organisations have already tackled aspects of service delivery described in the NSF; these examples are organised under each of the NSF's Quality Requirements to help service providers and commissioners to take practical steps to improve services.

Click on the link below called 'National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions Good Practice Guide' to be taken to the main body of the guide. In this area you will find topics including: How to use the guide, Getting started, Self-assessment, Tackling key issues and Information about the Implementation Group.

Or alternatively, if you wish to only look at examples of best practice under each Quality Requirement of the NSF then go straight to the links below for each numbered Quality Requirement.

Select a section

National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions Good Practice Guide

This area covers topics including: How to use the guide, Getting started, Self-Aassessment, Tackling key issues and information about the Implementation Group. The good practice examples are listed separately.

Evaluated examples of good practice - introduction and overview

How the examples were chosen and evaluated, and how to submit an example.

Good practice examples: Quality requirement 1

People with long-term neurological conditions are offered integrated assessment and planning of their health and social care needs. They are to have the information they need to make informed decisions about their care and treatment and, where appropriate, to support them to manage their condition themselves

Good practice examples: Quality requirement 2

People suspected of having a neurological condition are to have prompt access to specialist neurological expertise for an accurate diagnosis and treatment as close to home as possible.

Good practice examples: Quality requirement 3

People needing hospital admission for a neurosurgical or neurological emergency are to be assessed and treated in a timely manner by teams with the appropriate neurological and resuscitation skills and facilities.

Good practice examples: Quality requirement 4

People with long-term neurological conditions who would benefit from rehabilitation are to receive timely, ongoing, high quality rehabilitation services in hospital or other specialist settings to meet their continuing and changing needs. When ready, they receive the help they need to return home for ongoing community rehabilitation and support.

Good practice examples: Quality requirement 5

People with long-term neurological conditions living at home are to have ongoing access to a comprehensive range of rehabilitation, advice and support, to meet their continuing and changing needs, to increase their independence and autonomy and help them to live as they wish.

Good practice examples: Quality requirement 6

People with long-term neurological conditions are to have access to appropriate vocational assessment, rehabilitation and ongoing support, to enable them to find, regain or remain in work and access other occupational and educational opportunities.

Good practice examples: Quality requirement 7

People with long-term neurological conditions are to receive timely, appropriate assistive technology/equipment and adaptations to accommodation to support them to live independently, help them with their care, maintain their health and improve their quality of life.

Good practice examples: Quality requirement 8

Health and social care services work together to provide care and support to enable people with long-term neurological conditions achieve maximum choice about living independently at home.

Good practice examples: Quality requirement 9

People in the later stages of long-term neurological conditions are to receive a comprehensive range of palliative care services when they need them to control symptoms, offer pain relief, and meet their needs for personal, social, psychological and spiritual support, in line with the principles of palliative care.

Good practice examples: Quality requirement 10

Carers of people with long-term neurological conditions are to have access to appropriate support and services that recognise their needs both in their role as carer and in their own right.

Good practice examples: Quality requirement 11

People with long-term neurological conditions are to have their specific neurological needs met while receiving care for other reasons in any health or social care setting.

Good practice examples: Chapter 3 of the NSF

These examples demonstrate how neuroscience networks described in chapter 3 of the NSF can improve services for people with long-term conditions.

Additional links

Modernisation Agency Neurology website

This site replaces the Action On Neurology website and provides information about the outcomes from the Action On Neurology programme.

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