Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I am delighted to have this opportunity to raise on the Adjournment the issue of neurological services in the north west. This issue was brought to my attention by MS Ireland which has an office in Donegal from which it provides a service for the north west. I also raised this issue on the Adjournment in February 2008.

This issue relates to the need for an additional consultant neurologist in the north west. Currently, there is one consultant neurologist for the HSE north-west region. That consultant is located in Sligo General Hospital. It has been well documented that neurological services within the State are underdeveloped generally in comparison with other European and developed countries. Neurological disease affects approximately 700,000 people in Ireland. Each year approximately 44,000 new patients are diagnosed with neurological problems. Stroke is the third most common cause of death and the leading cause of disability in this country. With our ageing population, neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease will become an even more serious public health issue in the future.

There are 21 consultant neurologists and five consultant neurophysiologists in the public service within the State. In April 2003, a report published by Comhairle na nOspidéal, the National Hospitals Office, on neurological diseases and service provision recommended one consultant neurologist per 100,000 people within the State. That suggests there should be 39 such posts within the Republic of Ireland, and following the last census figures, that figure would increase to more than 40. The report's recommendations for clinical neurophysiology is for a total of nine consultants compared with three in 2003. That would leave a shortfall of 30, which is obviously having an effect on the north west.

The demands on the service in the north west are overwhelming. On MS Ireland's books alone, there are 700 or 800 patients in the region who utilise its services. There are more than 1,000 people on the outpatient waiting list at Sligo General Hospital to see the consultant neurologist, who travels between Sligo General Hospital and Letterkenny General Hospital, and I understand he is in Letterkenny General Hospital one day a week. There is an 18-month waiting list to see that consultant. The consultant neurologist in Sligo General Hospital is not necessarily responsible for diagnosing the patients. They are diagnosed more often than not in Dublin or in Galway. The difficulty arises in terms of the waiting list of patient referrals, following their initial diagnosis, to see the consultant neurologist for regular appointments. That 18-month waiting list is unacceptable and must be dealt with. Some work was done by the HSE to try to rectify the situation with the making available of additional assistance.

I raise this matter on behalf of multiple sclerosis patients, especially in Donegal where there is a large number of MS sufferers, many of whom I know who are experiencing major difficulties. When one is diagnosed with MS it is a life-changing experience. Those patients and their families experience difficulties, which would be eased if, following their diagnosis, the waiting list was reduced somewhat.

I know of patients who were diagnosed in recent months who are now on a waiting list and there is a massive backlog. It would be helpful if that waiting list was dealt with by the appointment of a second consultant. I would like to pay tribute to the consultant in Sligo General Hospital, Dr. Murphy, who is doing an excellent job. He is available to the families concerned but resources dictate the level of service he is able to provide. I have no doubt he would warmly welcome the appointment of a second consultant neurologist to assist him in reducing the waiting list from 18 months to a more reasonable waiting time.