The Department of Health and Social Care(DHSC) has issued a major update after more than 16,000 people signed a petition calling for 'dignity' and 'proper care'. The parliamentary campaign advocates for increased appointments and enhanced GP training related to functional neurological disorder (FND), which refers to issues with how the brain processes information.

The Government acknowledged that FND is a 'complex condition' and that more must be done to enhance services for those living with the condition. In turn, it promised that 'improving care for people with long-term conditions is a key priority', and outlined steps being taken so far.

"Improving health outcomes for people living with long-term conditions, including functional neurological disorder (FND), is a key part of the Government's ambition to build an NHS fit for the future," the DHSC said in its petition response on November 19. "The Government recognises that FND is a complex condition, involving a range of neurological symptoms without a clear cause, which can impact on an individual’s life significantly.

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"FND can be difficult to diagnose, as well as to treat, as its wide variety of symptoms can make it hard to find effective interventions. The Government recognises that there is a need to do more to improve access to services for people living with conditions such as FND.

"This is why improving care for people with long-term conditions is a key priority for this Government and the NHS, and we are committed to ensuring they receive high-quality care and support and access to the latest treatments. The recently published 10 Year Health Plan for England will ensure a better health service for everyone, regardless of condition or service area."

Unlike many other neurological disorders, FND describes changes in how the brain network works rather than alterations to the brain's structure. This can significantly impact a person's daily life, with signs often including seizure-like episodes, movement difficulties, speech challenges, and pain, among other symptoms, according to the National Institutes of Health.

At a national level, the DHSC said there are currently several initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions, such as FND. This encompasses the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the Neurology Transformation Programme, designed to enhance patient care by ensuring a more equitable service delivery throughout 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."

Despite these initiatives, the DHSC clarified that the responsibility for maintaining training standards for GPs and other healthcare professionals lies with 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. Should it reach 100,000, it will be considered for a debate in Parliament.

You can read the petition and its response in full here.