A recent Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) survey has found critical gaps in neurorehabilitation services across the country.

The survey found major gaps in neurorehabilitation services meaning  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.

A high proportion of the 700 individuals who responded to the survey also reported being unable to access neurorehabilitation services in the past 12 months:

• 78% in the North West
• 73% in the South East
• 58% in the Midlands
• 62% in Dublin

The NAI is calling for investment in four community neurorehabilitation teams in these regions in order to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to complete the rollout of community neuro-rehabilitation teams across the country. 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 Neuro-rehabilitation Strategy.

The Neurological Alliance is also seeking funding for the provision of 45 regional inpatient neuro-rehabilitation beds across the South West and Midlands regions to begin to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to tackle the national shortfall of 175 beds nationwide.

Magdalen Rogers, Executive Director of the NAI, 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 experiences across the country.

Ms Rogers said: “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.

“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