UK neurology services face escalating delays risking preventable disability for MS patients

Patients with neurological conditions like MS are facing record-long waits for diagnosis and treatment amid NHS staffing shortages and systemic delays, raising fears of irreversible disability and emergency admissions.

When Pippa Dungey first experienced numbness in her legs, she sought help from her GP, only to be told that specialist neurology services would not be available for 10 months. The 25-year-old trainee solicitor from southeast London watched anxiously as her condition deteriorated, later developing such severe weakness that she was unable to lift her right leg and had to drag it around. Despite repeated visits to her GP and A&E, she was repeatedly advised to wait for a neurology appointment. Eventually, she was admitted to hospital for a week and diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a progressive neurological condition affecting around 150,000 people in the UK. Ms Dungey continues to work on regaining mobility but describes feeling abandoned during the critical early phase of her illness.

Her experience starkly highlights a growing crisis in neurology services across the NHS, where patients endure prolonged waits for diagnosis and treatment. According to the MS Society, waiting times for initial neurology appointments have surged by 65% since 2019-20, now averaging five months. Over 6,000 people have waited more than a year for neurology consultations, with more than 220,000 neurology pathways active as of 2025 and almost half of these patients waiting longer than the 18-week NHS target. The charity warns that delays can lead to irreversible disability due to untreated disease progression and have criticised the government for failing to include neurological conditions in its 10-year NHS plan.

The shortage of neurologists exacerbates these pressures. The MS Trust points to regional disparities and a national lack of consultant neurologists amid rising demand. The pandemic further intensified waiting lists, as revealed in a 2021 MS Society report showing that nearly a third of MS patients had experienced cancelled or postponed appointments, while 63% of neurology professionals struggled to maintain care quality. The House of Lords debate in 2022 noted a sharp increase in neurology referrals and called for streamlined referral pathways to alleviate bottlenecks, a call echoed by charities advocating for a dedicated national strategy.

Data from Parliament confirms that patient pathways awaiting neurology care numbered over 220,000 in early 2025, reflecting the significant systemic challenges. The MS Society has also highlighted that about one in seven MS patients suffer unplanned hospital admissions, often preventable with timely care, and some must travel over 20 miles for treatment amid limited local resources. Peter Lloyd, policy manager at the MS Society, warned that neurologists and specialist MS nurses are under immense strain, causing detrimental delays for essential services such as diagnosis and follow-up care. He confirmed that while the NHS 10-Year Plan addresses some issues like shifting care into community settings, it lacks a specific focus on neurological conditions, underscoring the urgent need for a dedicated national neurology plan.

Ms Dungey’s sobering story and the mounting evidence from patient surveys, parliamentary data, and charity reports collectively expose the fragility of neurology services in the UK. Thousands of people with MS and other neurological conditions face life-altering delays that risk preventable disability and emergency hospital admissions. Although government plans profess ambition, the absence of explicit commitments to neurological care continuity and resource expansion remains a serious concern for those reliant on timely specialist intervention.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative presents a recent personal account from September 2025, highlighting prolonged NHS neurology waiting times. The Independent article cites data from the MS Society, indicating a 65% increase in waiting times since 2019-20, now averaging five months. This aligns with previous reports, such as the MS Trust’s statement on waiting times and the MS Society’s report on neurology services failing people with MS. The inclusion of updated data and personal testimony suggests a high freshness score. However, the narrative’s reliance on a single personal account may limit its representativeness. Additionally, the MS Society’s data from 2025 indicates that over 6,000 people have waited more than a year for neurology consultations, with almost half of these patients waiting longer than the 18-week NHS target. ([mstrust.org.uk](https://mstrust.org.uk/information-support/ms-symptoms-diagnosis/waiting-neurologist-appointment?utm_source=openai), [questions-statements.parliament.uk](https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-05-01/hcws614?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
9

Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from Pippa Dungey, a 25-year-old trainee solicitor from southeast London, describing her experience with NHS neurology waiting times. These quotes appear to be original and exclusive to this report, as no identical matches were found in earlier material. The absence of identical quotes in earlier material suggests originality.

Source reliability

Score:
9

Notes:
The narrative originates from The Independent, a reputable UK news outlet known for its investigative journalism. The inclusion of data from the MS Society, a well-established charity, further supports the reliability of the information presented.

Plausability check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative’s claims about prolonged NHS neurology waiting times are consistent with previous reports and data from reputable sources. The MS Trust has highlighted regional disparities and a national shortage of consultant neurologists, exacerbated by the pandemic. The MS Society has also reported on the failure of neurology services to meet patient needs. The inclusion of updated data and personal testimony adds credibility to the narrative. However, the reliance on a single personal account may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative presents a recent and original account of prolonged NHS neurology waiting times, supported by data from reputable sources. The inclusion of personal testimony adds depth to the report, and the source’s reliability is strong. While the reliance on a single personal account may limit generalizability, the overall assessment is positive.