Sir, – As the representatives of national charities representing people with neurological conditions, we are writing to express our extreme concern at the lack of action on tackling the “silent crisis” in neuro-rehabilitation in this country.
What we are calling for is a commitment from this Government to multiannual investment across hospital and community to deliver the neuro-rehabilitation services that are taken for granted across the rest of Europe.
Ireland is a European blackspot when it comes to neuro-rehabilitation services at every stage of the pathway from hospital to home.
Many are losing a vital window of recovery as they wait months for a neuro-rehab bed or appropriate services in the community.
The National Neuro-rehabilitation Strategy was published in 2011 with an implementation plan expected within six months.
We are still waiting for that plan over six years later.
Minister for Health Simon Harris committed to publishing the plan by June this year in line with the commitment in the programme for government. We now understand that deadline will not be met and no timeline has been given for when the plan will be delivered.
It is one year since we launched our “We Need Our Heads Examined” campaign for action on neuro-rehabilitation.
Since then, we have had more empty promises, following on from more than a decade of failure by successive ministers to address this health crisis, which is leaving thousands of Irish people each year experiencing the unnecessary burden of disability, unable to leave hospital or living in inappropriate settings and with families struggling to cope. – Yours, etc,
MAGDALEN ROGERS,
Executive Director,
Neurological Alliance
of Ireland;
KIERAN LOUGHRAN,
Chief Executive,
Headway;
THOMAS LILLIS,
Chairman,
Huntingtons Disease
Association of Ireland;
PAULA GILMORE,
Chief Executive,
Parkinsons Association
of Ireland;
BARBARA O’CONNELL,
Chief Executive,
Acquired Brain
Injury Ireland;
CHRIS MACEY,
Head of Advocacy,
Irish Heart Foundation;
RICHARD LODGE,
Chief Executive,
Muscular Dystrophy Ireland;
REINHARD SCHALER,
Chief Executive,
An Saol;
TINA LEONARD,
Head of Advocacy
and Public Affairs,
Alzheimer Society
of Ireland;
AVA BATTLES,
Chief Executive,
Multiple Sclerosis
Society of Ireland;
KATHLEEN O’MEARA,
Director
of Communications, Public Affairs and Fundraising
Rehab Group;
NATASHA SMITH,
Chairwoman,
Brain Tumour Ireland;
JAMES McCARTHY,
Chairman,
Spinal Injuries
Ireland.