Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of specialist paediatric neurorehabilitation services; and whether he is taking steps to improve access to intensive rehabilitation for children recovering from acquired brain injury, brain tumours and other neurological conditions.

Specialist paediatric neurorehabilitation services are commissioned in line with the service specification published by the NHS England’s Clinical Reference Group for Paediatric Neurosciences. The service specification is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Paediatric-Neurorehabilitation.pdf

The service specification sets out a national, multidisciplinary model for delivering intensive rehabilitation tailored to the needs of children with acquired brain injury (ABI), including those with brain tumours, as well as children with other neurological conditions. The service specification provides a framework for integrated, specialist paediatric neurorehabilitation, centred on early and intensive intervention, coordinated care across acute, specialist, and community settings, and sustained support throughout childhood, including transition to adult services.

As part of NHS England’s service specification review programme, the Paediatric Neurosciences Clinical Reference Group is currently reviewing the service specification. This work includes engagement with individual paediatric neurorehabilitation services to inform an updated model of care and to assess current provision and access. This review will support improvements in access to high-quality, intensive rehabilitation and ensure services are responsive to the needs of children and young people across England.

In October 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published new guidance on rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders, including ABI. The guideline covers children and young people as well as adults. NICE guidelines are informed by clinical expertise, are evidence-based, and represent best practice. The Government expects commissioners and service providers to take NICE guidance fully into account in designing services that meet the needs of their local population and to work towards their implementation over time.