LATEST NEWS AND ACTIVITIES: FOR NAI SUBMISSIONS AND POLICY DOCUMENTS GO TO THE NAI POSITION PAGE ON THIS SITE
Last Updated: 23rd August 2010
HSE establishes Clinical Programmes in Neurological Care
Three clinical programmes in neurological care have been introduced by the HSE in 2010 under the newly established Quality and Clinical Care Directorate, led by Dr Barry White
Epilepsy: Dr Colin Doherty, St James Hospital Dublin
Stroke: Dr Peter Kelly, Mater Hospital Dublin and Professor Joe Harbison, St James Hospital
Outpatient Neurology: Dr Brian Sweeney, Cork University Hospital
NAI members and other stakeholders were briefed on this new initiative at the launch of the NAI report "The Future for Neurological Conditions in Ireland: a Challenge for Healthcare; an Opportunity for Change" in June 2010.
Speaking on the day, Dr Colin Doherty outlined the potential of these programmes to improve services for people with neurological conditions.
The NAI will be meeting with the QCC directorate later this Autumn to discuss the work of the programmes to date and to emphasise the need to address other vital areas of neurological care as part of its campaign for a national programme for neurological care in the health services.
Joint Oireachtas Committee Supports Campaign for a National Programme for Neurological Care
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children has supported the Neurological Alliance of Ireland's call for a national programme for neurological care and will be writing to the Minister for Health and Children and the Health Service Executive, urging them to put such a plan in place.
Despite the fact that over 700,000 people are living with neurological conditions in this country and 44,000 are diagnosed each year, the response of our health service to meeting their needs continues to be hampered by a lack of investment and planning.
The NAI campaign, VOTE FOR THINKING AHEAD calls for a national programme for neurological care that will see the HSE prioritise service development and spending in this area. Members of the public are asked to sign an online petition on the NAI website, www.nai.ie. The campaign is supported by the over thirty charities and other groups that are members of the NAI.
The NAI campaign for a National Programme for Neurological Care VOTE FOR THINKING AHEAD was developed to coincide with the recent launch of the NAI report "The Future for Neurological Conditions in Ireland: A challenge for healthcare; an opportunity for change". This landmark report brought together leading clinicians, academics and health agencies, as well as the testimonies of people living with neurological conditions, in an essential guide to neurological care in the Irish health system.
Mags Rogers, Development Manager with the Neurological Alliance of Ireland notes that "Our report made it clear that the current situation cannot continue. The VOTE FOR THINKING AHEAD campaign gives everyone a chance to do something practical, we want to get as many signatories as possible".
She says that despite the prevailing economic conditions, investment in neurological care is vital "People with neurological conditions in Ireland have always waited while other areas of our health system received greater priority, they cannot be made to wait any longer".
Visitors to the online petition can also download details of how to contact their local TD to make them aware of this issue, and access a Facebook page to share their experiences.
The VOTE FOR THINKING AHEAD campaign will continue over the coming months with a series of meetings to present the petition around the country. To receive regular updates, sign up to the online petition at www.nai.ie.
Launch of NAI Campaign for a National Programme for Neurological Care
Click on the VOTE FOR THINKING AHEAD icon on our homepage to see details of our campaign for a national programme for neurological care
NAI launch seminal report on neurological care in Ireland
Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney, launched the NAI report "The Future for Neurological Conditions in Ireland: A challenge for healthcare; an opportunity for change" in Buswells Hotel Dublin on Tuesday 29th June. This essential guide to neurological care in our health services features leading neurospecialists, academics, researchers, health agencies and individuals who have joined together with the NAI to outline a solution focused approach to meet the needs of the over 700,000 people living with neurological conditions in this country.
The document is available to download free from this site by clicking on the report icon on our homepage
NAI Submission to Joint Oireachtas Commmittee on Health & Children
Visit the NAI POSITION page to download a copy of the NAI Submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health calling for a national programme for neurological care
Latest Newsletter Available The latest edition of the NAI newsletter, January to June 2010 is now available to download by clicking on the newsletter icon on our homepage. It features reports on National Brain Awareness Week 2010 as well as details of NAI activities and forthcoming events.
National Cardiovascular Strategy Launched
The Cardiovascular Health Policy was launched on Thursday 10th June 2010 and also includes a comprehensive framework for treatment and rehabilitation following stroke. The launch of this plan represents a very significant step in neurological care in Ireland. The Strategy can be downloaded by visiting the NAI POSITION page of this site
NAI and DFI Joint Project on Primary Care
As part of the NAI/DFI joint project on primary care, we have developed a questionnaire to examine the information and training needs of those working in primary care in relation to neurological conditions. The questionnaire is available to download from the following link
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8QGZBQ7
Winner of Innovation Award announced Try-it.ie, a website that allows people to access and trial new technologies has won the inaugural NAI Innovation Award which was presented at the NAI keynote conference for National Brain Awareness Week in the Science Gallery Dublin on Tuesday 9th March.
Other shortlisted entries included the development of a unique electronic patient record for people with epilepsy in Beaumont Hospital, a multiagency collaborative vocational programme for people with acquired brain injury led by Headway and a specialist-led epilepsy service in St James Hospital, Dublin, co-ordinated by Dr Colin Doherty, Consultant Neurologist.
The NAI were overwhelmed with the response to the award in this, its first year with nearly 30 entries received. The judging panel were deeply impressed by the range and quality of all of the projects submitted for consideration.
Presenting the award on the day, Mr Enda Connolly, CEO of the Health Research Board, welcomed the value of the award in promoting innovation in this area of healthcare and praised the quality and professionalism of those projects shortlisted for the award.
The NAI would like to sincerly thank Medtronic Ltd for sponsoring the award, the judging panel for their committment and support and all the entrants who helped make this initiative such a succcess.
Members of the Judging Panel for the NAI Innovation Award
Ms Ava Battles, CEO of the Carmichael Centre and Chair of the Judging Panel
Mr John Dolan: CEO of the Disability Federation of Ireland
Professor Orla Hardiman: Consultant Neurologist, Beaumont Hospital
Niall Hunter: Journalist and editor of irishhealth.com
Mr Brian Murphy: Programme Manager for Primary Care Services, Health Services Executive
Ms Eibhlin Mulroe: CEO of IPPOSI (Irish Platform for patients, science and industry)
Ms Anne O Loughlin: Principle Social Worker, National Rehabilitation Hospital
Mr Richard Phillips: Public Affairs Manager UK and Ireland, Medtronic Ltd
Professor Ian Robertson: Psychology Department, Trinity College Dublin
Brain Awareness Week 2010: Calendar of Events The calendar of events for National Brain Awareness Week is now available, click on the National Brain Awareness Week icon to download the calendar
NAI Innovation Award
We were delighted with an unprecedented response to the NAI Innovation Award. 28 applications were received, the very first time we have had an award of this kind. The winning entry will be announced at the NAI conference "The Future for Neurological Conditions in Ireland: Innovations and Solutions" on Tuesday 9th March
Shortlisted entries will be invited to present a poster at the conference
Plans for National Brain Awareness Week 2010
Click on the Brain Awareness Week logo on the homepage to see plans for National Brain Awareness Week March 8th to 14th 2010
FULL PROGRAMME AND BOOKING FORM FOR THE NAI CONFERENCE ON TUESDAY 9TH MARCH 2010 ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FROM THE BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK PAGE
NAI Submission to Value for Money Review
The NAI Submission to the Department of Health and Children Value for Money and Policy Review for Disability Services will be available to download shortly from the NAI Position page on this site
Regional forum North West
Thank you to all who attended the NAI regional forum in the Clarion Hotel Sligo on 4th December 2009. The report from the day will be available shortly on the Regional Forum page of this website
NAI Submission to the Review of Vision for Change The Neurological Alliance of Ireland response to the review of the Mental Health Strategy: A Vision for Change will shortly be available to download from the NAI position page on this site
NAI Innovation Award
As part of plans for National Brain Awareness Week 2010, the NAI is pleased to announce details of an innnovation award for initiatives which improve quality of life for people with neurological conditions. For full details and to download an entry form, please click on the Brain Awareness Week logo on the homepage.
You will also find details on this page of NAI plans for Brain Awareness Week including a one day conference in the Science Gallery Dublin in association with the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience.
Reception to announce NAI publication for 2010
The NAI held an evening reception on Tuesday 10th November to announce details of a publication to be launched in 2010. The publication is entitled "The future for neurological conditions in Ireland: a challenge for healthcare; an opportunity for change" and will contain opinion pieces from key people working in the health and disability sector in Ireland. The evening was kindly hosted by the Dublin Neurological Institute and details and photos are available on the NAI news page
NAI Council Meeting 27th October 2009 The second NAI council meeting of the year was held following the AGM on 27th October 2009 with Mr James O'Grady, Department of Health and Children as guest speaker.
Regional Forum HSE WEST
The NAI Regional forum for HSE WEST took place on Friday 3rd July in the Clayton Hotel Galway. The regional fora are an opportunity to focus on services for people with neurological conditions, both on what is needed and on what is working well. A report on the day is now available to download on the regional fora page on this site
NAI Council Meeting 23rd June 2009
NAI held a council meeting of its members on 29th June. The Minister for Mental Health and Disability, John Moloney, attended the meeting.
The CEO of the Neurological Alliance in the UK presented at the meeting.
A report and photos from the day are available on the NAI news page on this site
European Elections 5th June 2009
The NAI has written to each of the candidates in advance of the elections to the European elections, in relation to how they can support issues for people with neurological conditions in Europe.
Expert Group on Financing and Resource Allocation in the Health Sector
NAI has made a submission to this group, established by the Minister for Health and Children in April 2009. The submission outlines the need to invest in services for people with neurological conditions in recognition of the numbers of people involved in proportion to the current funding and to prepare for increased demands on these services with an ageing population
Mental Capacity Bill
The NAI held an information and discussion session on the Mental Capacity Bill on Wednesday May 13th. A range of NAI member groups and representatives from the National Rehabilitation Hospital, the Royal Hospital Donnybrook and Peamount Hospital attended the session. Dr Niall Pender, Head of Neuropsychology, Beaumont Hospital provided a comprehensive overview of the implications of the Bill specifically for organisations working with people with neurological conditions. There will be significant requirements on organisations providing services to prepare policies and procedures on assessing the capacity of their clients to make decisions about their care and treatment. The onus will be on organisations to demonstrate that all steps have been taken to facilitate the person to understand the information and communicate their decision.
It was acknowledged that this will represent a significant burden for organisations.
The NAI will continue to consult with its members on the types of support they will require to develop policies and procedures, as well as appropriate training and support for staff within their organisations.
If you have any queries on this issue, contact Mags Rogers, NAI Development Manager at info@nai.ie
National Rehabilitation Strategy
You can download information from the NAI working group on neurorehabilitation by visiting the National Rehabilitation Strategy page, see link on bottom right of our homepage
National Brain Awareness Week, March 9th to 15th 2009
YOU CAN NOW DOWNLOAD PRESENTATIONS AND PHOTOS FROM OUR NATIONAL BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK MARCH 9TH TO 15TH BY GOING TO THE BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK PAGE.
GO TO OUR MEDIA CENTRE PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR THEME FOR BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK 2009: THE IMPACT ON FAMILY CARERS
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