Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators for the opportunity to address the House on this important matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I acknowledge the work and role played by neurological nurse specialists in the care of patients. They play an important role in triaging, assessing, and providing ongoing support to neurological patients. This in turn builds capacity within neurological services and allows for more timely access to efficient, equitable and quality care.

I am advised that the HSE's national clinical programme for neurology, in conjunction with the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, NAI, completed an all-Ireland survey of neurological services in 2020. This survey confirmed that all neurological centres have access to a designated clinical nurse specialist and-or advanced nurse practitioner, recognising the value that skilled and highly trained nursing staff add to neurological services. The HSE has advised that plans will be developed to incrementally increase the overall number of nurse specialists.

The national clinical programme for neurology continues to engage regularly with patient organisations and the NAI to establish ways to promote neurology nurse specialists. It is focusing its current work streams and initiatives around nurse-led clinics, nurse liaison services and outreach programs. Examples of this include the headache and epilepsy outreach programmes, both of which are funded under the Sláintecare innovation fund. These programmes reconfigure the management of these conditions, enabling clinical nurse specialists and advanced nurse practitioners to lead and co-ordinate the care of these conditions in the community. This reduces reliance on consultant neurologists and tertiary services, in turn allowing more timely access to services and improving the overall quality of care.

The HSE has advised that all funded neurology nurse specialist posts in CUH are filled. There are currently five specialist nurses working within neurology services at the hospital. In addition, a candidate advanced nurse practitioner for epilepsy is going through the HSE recruitment process.

In 2021, the South/South West Hospital Group sought and received approval for two additional consultant neurologist posts to improve services at CUH. The consultant applications advisory committee recently approved these posts and recruitment is progressing to fill them. A second consultant neurophysiologist was recently appointed in CUH. An initiative to convene after-hours outpatient department clinics to address the issue of those obliged to wait a long time is also under discussion.

The Government is committed to improving patient services and having patient-centred care in Cork and across the country. That commitment is reflected in the unprecedented level of funding that is being targeted across the health service in recent budgets and again in budget 2022. I am assured that the South/South West Hospital Group remains committed to the development of neurology services within the group, and to improving these services for patients of the south and south-west region.