Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

335. To ask the Minister for Health her plans to develop a national funding pathway for FND with multi annual funding including regional teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50893/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department is committed to working with relevant stakeholders, including the HSE and patient representatives, to strengthen key services and supports for people with neurological conditions, including Functional Neurological Disorders, and has made significant investments in Budget 2025, as well as committing to further measures in the new Programme for Government.

Budget 2025 provided €4m for the recruitment of 5 consultant neurologists and an additional 25 WTEs to support the implementation of the Neurology Model of Care and the Hub and Spoke Model for neurology services.

I want to let you know that of the 30 WTEs announced for neurology services 3 of these will be dedicated to FND services at St. James Hospital. These posts will include a senior physiotherapist, a senior occupational therapist and a neuro-psychologist.

This new service development in 2025 aims to advance the implementation of the HSE Model of Care for Neurology. The focus of the neurology initiative and its FND Service sub-initiative are aimed at achieving the following:

- To improve access to appropriate neurology services,

- improve safety and quality in the delivery of patient-centred neurological care,

- and improve value for both patient and health services across neurology services.

More broadly, the National Clinical Programme for Neurology is actively working on a Hub and Spoke model to guide equitable neurology services around the country to align with the new health regions and to tackle the gaps in neurology services nationally. This will cater for people with all neurological conditions, including FND, and will deliver on the Sláintecare principle of delivering care closer to the patients' home.

This model will include one Model 4 Hospital ‘Hub’ per Health Region, catering for the most complex neurological care. These sites will support Model 3 hospital ‘Spoke’ sites, which will provide services for people with less complex needs, where efficient access to Hubs is required.

Many hospitals already have well-developed neurology services, but funding received in Budget 2025 will enable the delivery of Phase 1 of the Hub and Spoke model.

It is expected that this proposed Hub and Spoke model will enable a reduction in waiting lists, timely access to diagnosis and treatment and thus, improve quality of life and prognosis for people with neurological symptoms, including FND.

I am committed to making further progress developing services for those with Functional Neurological Disorders, and I will continue to work with the HSE to ensure improvements in Neurology services as a whole.