Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise with the Taoiseach the lack of services for neurology patients. Before I begin, I acknowledge the great work that has been done by an advocate and, indeed, a patient of neurology herself, Dr. Rosie Mangan, from County Offaly. Rosie attends hospital, and has to travel to Dublin four times a week. She is an advocate, as I say, and has launched a campaign, Right to Rehab. I acknowledge that lady's great work, some of which I am sure the Taoiseach will be aware of.

Indeed, I am sure the Taoiseach will be aware that neurological conditions which affect the brain and spine are the leading cause of disability throughout the world and include many common conditions such as stroke, migraine, epilepsy and acquired brain injury in addition to certain rare and genetic conditions. According to the latest data to hand, almost 24,000 Irish people are on a waiting list for a neurology outpatient appointment. The number of people on the neurology outpatient waiting list is continuing to rise, with the number waiting more than 18 months increasing by 30% in the past year. In fact, there is also a shortfall of 100 neurology nurses in Ireland based on official national and international guidelines relative to population. It is in that context that the Patients Deserve Better campaign was launched. It is being promoted by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, which is an umbrella group of non-profit organisations advocating for the rights of 800,000 citizens living with a neurological condition.

Today I want to focus on one particular ask, and that is the need for a dedicated community neuro-rehabilitation team for community healthcare organisation, CHO, 8, which includes my constituency of Laois-Offaly, where just one in every two neurology patients has access to services. A community neuro-rehabilitation team for CHO 8 was recommended in the implementation framework for the national neuro-rehabilitation strategy 2019-21 but no team has been funded despite implementation of this framework being a commitment in the current programme for Government.

These multidisciplinary teams provide access to key specialist supports, including physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, neuropsychology and occupational therapy, for people living with a range of neurological conditions including acquired brain injury, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and rare neurological conditions such as motor neurone disease and Huntington's disease.

We can only imagine what a deficit in services means for those directly affected by such a diagnosis but for their families and loved ones who have to travel to St. James's Hospital in Dublin three or four times a week because there are no local services, it is simply appalling. Will the Taoiseach work with the Minister for Health to commit to the delivery and prioritisation of a neuro-rehabilitation team for Laois-Offaly and the wider CHO 8 area?

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