LIMERICK and the Mid West is only funded for half the community neurorehabilitation posts it needs, leaving people with brain injuries waiting up to six months for attention.
The Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), the national umbrella body for over 30 neurological organisations, met with Limerick Oireachtas representatives at a pre-Budget event, at which NAI members raised concerns over “the government’s slow response on neurorehabilitation services creating a postcode lottery and exacerbating health inequalities for those most in need”.
An uplift of this team has been promised this year as part of the 2025 HSE Service Plan. The NAI says it will be seeking to ensure this commitment is delivered upon.
Limerick Sinn Fรฉin TD Maurice Quinlivan heard at the event that gaps in neurorehabilitation services mean that a quarter of those surveyed for the ‘Right Care in the Right Place: Access to Services for People with Neurological Conditions Across Ireland‘ report have never been able to access neurorehabilitation.
In its pre-budget submission, the NAI is calling for investment in four community neurorehabilitation teams to help deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to complete the rollout of community neuro-rehabilitation teams nationwide.
The North West, South East, North Dublin, and the Midlands have received no funding to date for teams promised in the 2019 National Implementation Framework for the Neurorehabilitation Strategy.
NAI executive director Magdalen Rogers welcomed the recommitment to deliver on promised neurorehabilitation services in the Programme for Government published this year, however she says that the longer the government falls short on its responsibility to patients, the greater the inequalities experienced across the country.
“The importance of community neurorehabilitation teams cannot be understated. The specialist service and care they deliver within the community for people with a wide range of neurological conditions is proven to reduce hospital stays by an average of three days per patient. These teams also play a critical role in avoiding further admissions to hospitals and long-term care,” Ms Rogers said
“In 2019, the government committed to funding nine community rehabilitation teams. To date only five of those regional teams have been delivered and there remains gaps within those services. The 2019 Framework also committed to creating 306 neurorehabilitation beds. A 2024 HSE report found there is a continued shortfall of 175 beds nationwide.”
The NAI represents over thirty charities advocating for the rights of over 860,000 people in Ireland living with a neurological condition.
