Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Is the Minister of State aware there are over 25,000 people who need rehabilitation each year? Most of these people struggle even to get the most basic level of service, according to the Neurological Alliance of Ireland. One of them is a lady named Vera Ronan. She was a happy energetic woman, active in her community and fond of the game of darts. She was close to her family and a very vibrant individual. She suffered a fall on 2 July 2015 and following some very good care in Beaumont Hospital, she was transferred on 18 July 2015 to Connolly Hospital, receiving care there for approximately six weeks. Following that, she waited in the hospital bed for a transfer to the National Rehabilitation Hospital or for any form of rehabilitation services. Her family assisted the nurses and carers and sat by her bedside, minding her as anybody would mind their mother. They watched her deteriorate and wait every single day. While she was in the bed, there were people downstairs on trolleys in the accident and emergency department. She should not have been in that bed; she should have been getting neuro-rehabilitation but she could not get it.

According to the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, the problem is at crisis level. We should have 270 inpatient beds for our population but we have fewer than half that number, with none outside Dublin. We should have four regional inpatient specialist rehabilitation services nationwide but we have none. There should be a minimum of nine community neuro-rehabilitation teams nationwide, with one in each community health organisation as a starting point, but there are only three, with none adequately staffed. I know Vera Ronan's family and their hearts break over the eight months lost, when their mother could have made serious progress. Every day that is lost, it takes two or more days to get the day back. It was heartbreaking for her family to have to see her in a hospital bed when she did not need to be there, effectively getting very expensive bed and breakfast. She needed neuro-rehabilitation.

Will the Minister of State commit to publishing a meaningful plan by the end of 2016 for the implementation of the national neuro-rehabilitation strategy that covers key actions, timeframes and a deadline to implement it? We have the report and know what needs to be done. We need a timeline, actions and identifiable targets. Will the Minister of State commit to appointing a senior manager in the HSE in 2016 to complete the plan and lead on the development of rehabilitation services nationally? We are failing people who need these services so badly because they have a chance of recovery; every day they spend without the neuro-rehabilitation services, they are being pushed back even further. There are 25,000 people per year who require this level of intervention. We have a plan so we do not need another report, as the Minister of State knows as well as I do. We need timeframes and a commitment to implement the plan.

See this speech in context