Community neurorehabilitation teams are multi-disciplinary teams that provide vital care to support recovery and prevent disability for people with neurological conditions.
More than 860,000 people throughout Ireland are currently living with a neurological condition and that number is set to increase significantly with our growing and ageing population.
According to the national neurorehabilitation strategy which was first launched in 2019, nine teams are required nationwide but only two have been delivered. This means that only 15pc of neurological patients in Ireland have access to a community neurorehabilitation team.
The overarching aim of the Strategy is the development of neuro-rehabilitation services to improve patient outcomes by providing safe, high quality, person-centred neuro-rehabilitation at the lowest appropriate level of complexity.
Community Health Organisation 6 (CHO6), which includes Wicklow, Dún Laoghaire and Dublin Southeast, still does not have a neurorehabilitation team in place, despite funding being made available.
Recruitment for the CH06 region neurorehabilitation team had been signed off on in May 2023 but was subsequently delayed by a HSE hiring freeze in July of that year.
Following the end of this hiring freeze, Social Democrats TD for Wicklow Jennifer Whitmore wrote to the HSE asking for an update on the status of the recruitment process. In a response from the HSE it was confirmed that following a consultation process with unions on these new development roles, recruitment for the team was due to commence in September 2024.
Positions for the team were also due to be advertised the same month with the recruitment process taking place over the autumn period. Plans had been put in place to have established the Community Neuro Rehabilitation Team in early 2025.
In a recent parliamentary exchange Deputy Whitmore asked the Health Minister if the centre in Bray was now fully operational and if not, when it is expected to become fully operational.
In response Minister McNeill said the issue raised by Deputy Whitmore is a matter for the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality and should be directed to that Department.