Policy number: SRP 050
Policy name: Functional Electrical Stimulation
Status: Not Funded
Effective date: 1 April 2024
Next review date: 1 April 2029
Mid and South Essex ICB do not routinely fund Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) due to a lack of evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness.
Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is the application of electrical impulses to help improve mobility and function for people with a wide range of neurological conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and head injury.
Providers of services for patients who were funded by the NHS prior to the introduction of this policy, who require on-going funding for maintenance and support, must seek Individual approval on an annual basis and the following criteria apply:
- The patient will have objectively demonstrated (using validated tools) that the use of FES is still clinically appropriate e.g. by:
- foot drop which impedes gait and evidence that this is not satisfactorily controlled using ankle–foot orthoses
- gait improvement from its use
This service/procedure has been assessed as a Low Clinical Priority by MSE ICB and will not be funded unless there are exceptional clinical circumstances.
Individual funding requests should only be made where the patient demonstrates clinical exceptionality.
Find out more information on applying for funding in exceptional clinical circumstances
Reference:
Functional electrical stimulation for drop foot of central neurological origin.
Interventional procedures guidance [IPG278] Published: 28 January 2009
Orthotic Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) for ‘foot drop’ of neurological origin