Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve neurological services. [97552]

Paul Burstow MP; Minister of State: The proposed reforms to commissioning, the greater focus on improving quality and joining services up more effectively, alongside a stronger collective voice for patients and the public will ensure the delivery of better, more seamless, services and improve patient and public experience. Recognising the importance of influencing the changes in commissioning process, neurological stakeholders have formed the Neurological Commissioning Support to work alongside commissioners to improve the way that neurological services are commissioned.

Key developments aimed at improving services for those with long-term conditions, including neurological conditions, are the Quality, Innovation Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) programme and the NHS Outcomes Framework.

QIPP is a large scale transformational programme for the national health service, involving all NHS staff, patients and the voluntary sector and will improve the quality of care. Local commissioners are currently configuring their work to drive the necessary changes and ensure that providers work together to respond to the challenge.

The NHS Outcomes Framework will provide the framework for defining how the NHS will be accountable for outcomes. It encompasses five domains articulating the responsibilities of the NHS.

Responsibility for ensuring that locally commissioned neurological services meet the needs of patients lies with primary care trusts. However, we recognise that there are still unacceptable local variations in the provision of neurological services, as highlighted by the recent National Audit Office report. We will be responding to the recommendations arising from the report, and subsequent Public Accounts Committee hearing in due course.