Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)

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Question reference: S6W-43632

Asked by: Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) availability and (b) adequacy of (i) specialist support, (ii) clinical pathways and (iii) peer support services for people with functional neurological disorder (FND) in (A) Scotland, (B) rural areas and (C) the Highlands, and what steps it is taking to improve (1) awareness of, and training on, FND within NHS Scotland and (2) the patient experience for people diagnosed with FND.

The provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of local NHS Health Boards, taking into account national guidance, local service needs and priorities for investment.

The Scottish Government has not specifically assessed the provision of clinical or peer support services for people with FND in Scotland.

NHS boards self-evaluated against the General Standards for Neurological Care and Support in 2024, to identify local strengths and weaknesses and prioritise areas for improvement. All are progressing improvement plans for neurology services and many of these include actions related to improving services for people with FND.

A National Pathway for FND was published in May 2024 via the Centre for Sustainable Delivery. This has been produced to support clinical staff to effectively diagnose and manage FND and provide patients with better access to evidence-based treatment, across Scotland.

We are working with clinical partners to improve the delivery of services for people with neurological conditions such as FND. Through our Neurological Care & Support Framework 2020-25, we funded NHS Lothian to create a clinical FND network to improve clinical pathways, provide education and training to other healthcare professionals and a relapse service for people with FND.

We also funded NHS Grampian to pilot GP Pathways for FND Education, and supported the production of national, publicly-accessible information on FND via the neurosymptoms.org website and digital tool, a NHS dissociative seizures app, and through NHS Inform.

In November 2025 we delivered a FND seminar with the Scottish Centre for Sustainable Delivery attended by over 300 health and social care professionals. Clinical teams from four Scottish health boards presented their work in sustaining and growing FND services.

We will continue to work with health and social care providers to promote models of care that lead to successful patient outcomes for people with FND.

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Question reference: S6W-43632

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