Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he intends to implement the action plan for neurological care as drawn up by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland an umbrella group of more than 30 NGOs and charities providing support to some of the 700,000 persons living with a neurological condition. [10594/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Following discussions in 2010 between the Director of the Office of Clinical Strategy and Programmes in the HSE and the Irish Consultant Neurologists' Association (Neurology Faculty) it was agreed to appoint a number of Neurologists to lead three key national programmes. The setting up of these programmes shows the importance that the HSE gives to neurological care and its commitment to improving access to neurological services.

In this regard, I welcome the action plan for neurological care by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), to which the Deputy refers. This plan emphasises the importance of neurological care and raises many issues that these neurology programmes will address.

The first of these programmes deals with neurology out patient departments and aims to provide standardised care for neurology patients and to increase access so that patients will not wait more than thirty days for an appointment. The programme is due to establish referral guidelines and encourage the increased use of neurolink. The second programme deals with epilepsy services and aims to introduce rapid access clinics and introduce twenty four hour, seven day a week telephone access to expert opinion for all healthcare professionals. It is intended that this programme will assist with admission avoidance and reduce the number of attendances to emergency departments. The third programme deals with stroke services and aims to establish robust clinical governance systems for stroke care, including local stroke teams and regional stroke networks. This programme is due to include access to safe and effective stroke thrombolysis in all hospitals admitting acute stroke on a twenty four hour, seven day a week basis.

The HSE has emphasised to my Department that all national programmes, including those concentrating on neurology, will have a focus on patient advocacy. These inter-related programmes aim to improve service quality, effectiveness and patient access and to ensure that patient care is provided in the service setting most appropriate to individuals' needs.

The NAI action plan includes reference to access to neurological rehabilitation services. My Department is in the process of finalising a National Policy and Strategy for the delivery of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland 2011 - 2015. The Health Service Executive's National Service Plan for 2011 includes a commitment to target people waiting for a neurology out-patient appointment, appoint a national clinical lead for neuro-rehabilitation and establish an implementation structure and develop an implementation plan for neuro-rehabilitation.