Mapping psychological provision across Level 1 and 2 NHS neurorehabilitation services in England, February 2023

This article outlines a preliminary mapping exercise of psychological staffing provision across Level 1 and 2 NHS neurorehabilitation services in England in February 2023, with the aim of understanding current provision and how it aligns with national service standards. Twenty services contributed clinical psychology/neuropsychology staffing information. This was audited against national recommendations for clinical psychology/neuropsychology staffing provision in specialist neurorehabilitation services (British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine Specialised Neurorehabilitation Service Standards, 2015). The results indicate that, on average, neurorehabilitation services are understaffed by approximately 2 full-time equivalent psychologists. As a result, patients are at risk of receiving substandard care, with poor optimisation of rehabilitation through evidence-based interventions and increased possibility of long-term disability. Staff are not being provided with psychological consultation and services are hence not providing appropriate and efficient multidisciplinary care. This is a call for action to support sufficient funding for clinical psychology/neuropsychology provision within specialist neurorehabilitation services.