On 5 August 2026, Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans for faster access to care and support for people with motor neurone disease (MND), during a visit to the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds. The Department of Health and Social Care said development of the fast-track pathway would involve the MND Association, people living with MND, carers and partners across health, social care and housing.

The department said the government had already written to local authorities setting out steps they could take, including fast-tracking access to care and support, joint assessment by health and social care services, planning ahead as conditions progress, speeding up Disabled Facilities Grant processes and waiving the grant means test for people with MND. The announcement followed Baroness Casey's March 2026 call for urgent action and was described as part of the first phase of social care reform.

MND Association chief executive Tanya Curry said the statement suggested willingness at the highest levels of government to change the system, adding that it must now be turned into action nationally and locally. Leeds Teaching Hospitals deputy chief executive Craig Richardson welcomed the visit and said the centre, six months after opening, was developing its support sessions, research programme and outreach family work.