Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Hope: An observation of neurology patient experience in Scotland (11 July 2025)

Summary

Patients with neurological conditions and their carers are “falling between the cracks” in Scotland’s health system, according to a report from the Neurological Alliance Scotland which suggests two-thirds of the one million Scots living with a neurological condition are struggling to cope.

The ‘Today's Challenges, Tomorrow's Hope’ report gathers insights spanning conditions from Alzheimer’s multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease to fibromyalgia, long COVID and cerebral palsy.

The report led by the Neurological Alliance of Scotland surveyed Scots about their experiences, finding over half feeling unsupported and 46% said Scotland’s health system ‘does not meet their needs’.

People living with cerebral palsy told researchers that while paediatric services are well-established, specialist adults support is largely absent and there is “little care or expertise held within general practice.”