Following a petition signed by over 16,000 individuals advocating for dignity and proper care, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has released an important update. This petition fuels a parliamentary campaign aiming to bolster the number of appointments and enhance GP training for functional neurological disorder (FND), a condition affecting how the brain processes information.

The Government has responded by acknowledging the complexity of FND and the necessity for improved services for those affected. In their statement, they emphasized that enhancing care for people with long-term conditions is a primary focus. They detailed current and future initiatives aimed at addressing these needs.

On November 19, the DHSC declared, “Improving health outcomes for individuals living with long-term conditions, including functional neurological disorder (FND), is a central part of the Government’s plan to create an NHS ready for future demands.” They recognized FND as a complex condition characterized by a range of neurological symptoms without a clear origin, significantly impacting individuals’ lives.

The Government admitted to the challenges in diagnosing and treating FND, given its diverse symptoms which complicate the search for effective treatments. Acknowledging the necessity for enhanced access to services for those with FND, the Government is committed to prioritizing improvements in care.

This commitment is reflected in the recently unveiled 10 Year Health Plan for England, designed to provide a superior health service to all, irrespective of condition or service area. The plan aims to ensure that those with long-term conditions receive high-quality care, support, and access to the latest treatments.

Unlike many other neurological disorders, FND is characterized by changes in how the brain functions rather than structural alterations. This can dramatically affect daily life, manifesting through symptoms such as seizure-like episodes, movement difficulties, speech problems, and pain, as noted by 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.