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EXTERNAL REFERENCE GROUP APPOINTED FOR NATIONAL SERVICE FRAMEWORK ON LONG-TERM CONDITIONS

  • Published date:
    20 November 2002

Health Minister Jacqui Smith today announced membership of the group responsible for advising on standards for diagnosis, treatment, health and social care of people with neurological conditions.

The External Reference Group (ERG) for the National Service Framework on Long-term Conditions (NSF) will bring together health and social care professionals, service users and carers and other advocates to develop a blueprint for a first class neurological and disability service.

The NSF aims to raise standards, reduce variations in services and improve the quality of care for people with neurological and other long-term conditions.

Jacqui Smith said:

"People with neurological conditions have in the past have had to fit in with the way care is provided locally, whether or not it met their individual needs. This NSF gives us a real opportunity to develop across health and social care, standards that will drive higher quality, more accessible services".

"This is a challenging agenda and that is why we have appointed a highly knowledgeable EWG covering the multidisciplinary aspects of this NSF. They have an extremely important role to play in the development of this work".

Notes for Editors

1. The Department of Health supports the ERGs and manages the overall process. The NSF on Long-term Conditions is the first to have a lay chair supported by a medical deputy and a Director within the Department of Health. (Announced in press release 2002/0417).The group will meet for the first time on 13 December 2002.

2. Current plans are to publish the NSF in 2004 with a 10-year implementation period from 2005. The development and implementation of this NSF will need to be in the context of the timetable for publishing other NSFs (renal and children), so that the impact on NHS and Social Services is properly managed.

3. The members of the ERG:

Chair: Diana Whitworth, Chief Executive of Carers' UK

Deputy Chairs:

  • Lynne Turner-Stokes, Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, King's College Hospital, London
  • Andy Mckeon, Director of Policy and Planning, Department of Health

ERG members:

  • Mr Alan Burns, Chief Executive, Trent Strategic Health Authority
  • Mrs Maggie Campbell, Brain Injury Co-ordinator & Consultant Neurophysiotherapist, Sheffield West NHS Primary Care Trust
  • Dr Geoffrey Carroll, Clinical Director, Eastern Regional Specialised Commissioning Group
  • Ms Julie Charles, Chief Executive, EQUALITIES - The National Council of Disabled People from Black and Minority Ethnic Communities, London
  • Mr Chris Clough, Medical Director and Consultant Neurologist, King's College Hospital, London
  • Mrs Marilyn Ekers, Service User, York
  • Mr Wagih El Masri, Consultant Surgeon in Spinal Injuries and Director, Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries
  • Professor Pam Enderby, Professor of Community Rehabilitation, University of Sheffield
  • Mr David G. Hardy, President, Society of British Neurosurgeons, Addenbrookes's Hospital, Cambridge
  • Dr Maggie Helliwell, General Practitioner, Airedale PCT & Ling House Medical Centre, Keighley
  • Jackie Holt, Director of Nursing & Hospital Services, Walton Centre for Neurology & Neuroscience NHS Trust
  • Mr Jeff Jerome, Director of Social Services & Housing, London Borough of Richmond Social Services & Housing
  • Mr Glyn Jones, County Manager - Physical Disability Services, Hampshire County Council Social Services Department
  • Mr Norman Keen, Carer, London
  • Maureen Kelly, Chair, The Neurological Alliance, Liverpool
  • Mrs Barbara Kennedy, Chief Executive, Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust
  • Helen McCloughry, Occupational Therapist & Acting Intermediate Care Manager, Nottingham City Social Services & Primary Care Trust
  • Mr David Pink, Chief Executive, Long-term Medical Conditions Alliance, London
  • Jill Stewart, Policy Manager - Health & Social Care, Disability Rights Commission, London
  • Dr Andy Tyerman, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist & Head of Service, Community Head Injury Service - Vale of Aylesbury Primary Care Trust
  • Dr Ian Williams, Director, North West Clinical Neuroscience Partnership, Merseyside

4. For media enquiries, please contact: Shima Islam, tel: 020 7210 5375 in the Department of Health Media Centre.

For public enquiries, please contact the Department of Health Public Enquiries Section on tel: 020 7210 4850

  • Contact:
    Press officer
  • Address:
    Media Centre, Department of Health
    Richmond House, 79 Whitehall
    London
    SW1A 2NL
  • Phone:
    Media Centre
    020 7210 5221

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