Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

472. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to international approaches, such as the Australian or UK models, for stroke rehabilitation; and if Ireland plans to adopt similar practices [52922/25]

Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

473. To ask the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure that the condition of "stroke" receives the same level of attention and research investment as other neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s. [52923/25]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 473 together.

This government is fully committed to supporting improvements and advances in stroke services including the area of research and will build on the €13.5m in funding allocated to the HSE National Stroke Strategy since its publication in 2022.

The HSE National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 aims to modernise and reform stroke services in line with Sláintecare policy and address the challenges facing Ireland from population ageing and the predicted increase in the total number of strokes right across Europe, including Ireland. The strategy focuses on the entire pathway of patient care under four key pillars; (1) stroke prevention; (2) acute care and cure; (3) rehabilitation and restoration to living; and (4) education and research.

Progress has been made in early stroke rehabilitation. The HSE will shortly publish a new report, Early Supported Discharge (ESD) for Stroke 2022 to 2023.

Early supported discharge teams are multidisciplinary teams who provide stroke rehabilitation in the persons home and is proven to reduce disability and improve independence post stroke. ESD means stroke survivors have therapy, social work and nursing support at home so they can leave hospital earlier. They are more independent, spend less time in hospital and are more likely to avoid long-term residential care.

These teams particularly target the goal of reduced disability and ESD is an internationally recognised model of best care for patients with mild to moderate deficits post stroke. The National Clinical programme has led the development of this model in Ireland.

Funding allocated to strategy has allowed for the expansion of Early Supported Discharge (ESD) teams in the community from 6 to 11 teams (target is 21 ESD teams nationally), it is envisaged that 15 teams will be operational by end 2025.

ESD also improves bed capacity in stroke units. More than 800 people benefited from the initiative in 2023. This is an increase from 370 patients in 2019 with the expansion to 11 sites, where a median of 22% patients are now discharged via ESD. Approximately 25% of stroke patients are eligible for ESD.