Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

The Department is currently considering the development of a formal policy on rehabilitation. A number of issues must be considered, including a needs assessment on a population health basis, the structure of the service provision, the location of the facilities and the nature of the facilities, that is, whether they are hospital, step-down or preparation for independent living. In other words, they would range from acute care to the stage just before going home. The need for the rehabilitation strategy has been brought to the fore for a number of reasons, including population growth and increased trauma survival, especially in cases of stroke and road traffic accidents. The national policy will inform the framework of rehabilitation services which the HSE, as the agency responsible for providing and contracting services, will have to develop.

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