Representatives from the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), a leading association comprising 30 neurological charities, have revealed that, there are only two operational neurorehabilitation teams in the country despite promises of additional provisions. They were supposed to be another four teams launched earlier this year.
The NAI Executive Director, Magdalen Rogers informed the Oireachtas health committee during a meeting on Wednesday that certain procedures are being hindered by delays. She raised concerns about the regional disparities in the availability of neurological healthcare services throughout the State.
Magdalen Rogers also expressed her dissatisfaction about the present scenario that has not changed a bit since last year. Only two out of the nine proposed teams are fully operating in the country.
As per the implementation plan of 2019, the two functional teams should have inevitably preceded, but that’s not the case, she criticised. The issue was exacerbated by the fact that these teams are understaffed. The recommendation is for 12 full-time staff per team, but currently, one team only has three, while the other has seven members.
The NAI also emphasised difficulties experienced by patients in Mayo requiring access to a neurological specialist. They described the state of neurological care in this region as almost ‘non-existent’.
Rogers explained that due to lack of resources at the Galway hospital, Mayo citizens cannot avail neurological care. This has led Mayo to stand apart from other smaller hospitals that offer neurology outreach programmes.
Consequently, patients in Mayo have to endure trips of approximately 150km for their consultations, and such journeys have to be made multiple times a year, often over a span of 20 to 30 years – a situation Rogers believes should not be neglected.
The Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) has expressed its comprehension of individuals in the upper regions journeying to Northern Ireland for neurological medical attention. The alliance reports that approximately 50,000 individuals are detected with neurological disorders annually. Currently, over 860,000 inhabitants within Ireland are living with some form of neurological disorder, a figure projected to rise considerably due to the increase and ageing of the population.
The NAI mentioned the considerable threat faced by recent progress in neurology and neurorehabilitation due to the recruitment freeze and lingering delays in delivering pledged commitments to those afflicted with neurological conditions. Despite substantial investment over the last three years to drive national strategies, the legacy of progress could be seriously compromised, affecting patients, their families, and communities across the nation.