Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators Boyhan, Wilson, Colm Burke, Dolan, Ó Donnghaile, Feighan, Devine and Hopkins for their valuable contributions. It is clear from this debate that all of us agree that the work of the National Rehabilitation Hospital is critical to the care of people who require its services. Neurological illness or injury has significant implications for individuals and their families and impacts on social, educational, vocational and recreational participation.

I accept that all those who spoke understand the issue. Senators raised valuable points on exit plans, the investment of €64 million, bed capacity, long-term planning and the urgent need for a second facility. It is also important that sufficient beds become available in the rehabilitation unit.

Senator Dolan referred to personal assistance and housing, an issue on which I am working closely with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. Senator Ó Donnghaile raised the issue of waiting lists while Senator Devine raised the issue of under-planning. I will take the points they made on board.

Senator Hopkins spoke of delays and noted the importance of the new facility in Roscommon. I recognise all the important points made in this debate and I give a commitment to convey them to the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris. I will also press for progress on the issue personally.

The National Rehabilitation Hospital provides complex specialist rehabilitation services to patients who, as a result of an accident, illness or injury, have acquired physical or cognitive disability and require specialist medical rehabilitation. The hospital has a reputation for excellence and provides patients with every opportunity to meet rehabilitation goals through personalised treatment plans delivered by consultant-led teams whose members are experts in their fields. The rehabilitation programmes at the hospital are tailored to meet the individual needs of adult and paediatric patients in the following areas of specialty: brain injury; spinal cord system of care; prosthetic, orthotic and limb absence rehabilitation; and paediatric family-centred rehabilitation.

I emphasise again the Government's commitment to the area of neurorehabilitation, and the development of the new 120 bed National Rehabilitation Hospital on the existing campus is a priority. I have been pressing for this development. The design is inpatient centred and based on the principles of empowerment, dignity, privacy, confidentiality and choice. There will be a major enhancement of rehabilitation services which will have a direct and significant impact on patient recovery by providing the optimal ward and therapeutic environment for patient treatment at the hospital.The model of care proposed in the strategy is a three-tiered model of specialist rehabilitation services and complex specialist tertiary services, specialist inpatient rehabilitation units and community-based specialist neuro-rehabilitation teams. These kinds of actions are starting as I speak.

As a first step, a managed clinical rehabilitation network project is in development to establish collaborative care pathways for people with complex neuro-rehabilitation care and support needs, accommodation needs, or both. We have to deal with accommodation needs if we are to assist the nine people who are occupying beds but want to exit these services. The National Rehabilitation Hospital will participate in the demonstration project.

I thank Senators for their valuable contributions to this important debate. I am listening to the points they are making. I am conscious that we have people in these circumstances. All of the issues that are being raised will be brought back to the Minister for Health, to the Department of Health and to the HSE.