The Right Care in the Right Place: NAI 2026 Pre Budget Campaign
Our advocacy campaign in the lead up to this year’s Budget focused on access to neurology and neurorehabilitation services in line with the commitments within the current Programme for Government. The latest NAI report Towards an Equitable Integrated Neurology Service for Ireland highlights the need for equitable access to neurology services for early diagnosis and appropriate care.
The Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) is calling on the Government to make targeted investments in neurology and neurorehabilitation services. In the NAI Pre-Budget Submission 2027, The Right Care in the Right Place, which launched on June 24th, we are seeking investment of €2.2m to strengthen neurology services nationwide and to deliver a long-promised community neurorehabilitation team for the South East, the only region in Ireland that has yet to receive funding for such a service.
ASK 1: Investment in regional neurology services and specialist pathways for early diagnosis in line with the Programme for Government commitment to investment in neurology services.
ASK 2: Investment to complete the rollout of community neurorehabilitation teams in line with the commitment within the current Programme for Government.
Magdalen Rogers, Chief Executive of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, said:
“One in six people in Ireland is living with a neurological condition, yet far too many are facing long waits for diagnosis, travelling significant distances to access care, or struggling to access the specialist supports they need after diagnosis. Our research has shown that people are experiencing a postcode lottery when it comes to neurology services. Budget 2027 provides an opportunity to address these inequities by investing in regional neurology services and specialist care pathways. Early diagnosis and timely intervention can have a profound impact on quality of life, independence and long-term health outcomes. We need to ensure that people can access the right care in the right place, regardless of where they live.”
You can download the Pre Budget Submission at The Right Care in the Right Place
You can download the National Press Release at NAI National Press Release June 24th
On Monday, September 9th, the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) held an online meeting to highlight the needs of local people living with neurological conditions across the South East.
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NAI is Calling for the Delivery of a Long Promised Community Neurorehabilitation Team for the South East
The areas of the South East that come under HSE Integrated Healthcare Areas of Waterford/Wexford and Carlow/Kilkenny/South Tipperary remain the only region of the country which has not received funding to date to support the establishment of a local community neurorehabilitation team in line with the nationwide rollout committed to within the current Programme for Government. NAI is advocating to ensure that people with neurological conditions throughout the South East are not at a disadvantage when it comes to access to community neurorehabilitation services that are available across other regions. These teams provide vital specialist neurorehabilitation in the community for up to 12 weeks for people with a wide range of neurological conditions including physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, neuropsychology, dietician and nursing support.
On Monday, June 15th, NAI held an online meeting with local elected representatives, patient groups and patient advocates, to highlight issues around neurology services in the midlands regional hospitals at Mullingar and Tullamore.
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Approximately 1 in 6 people is living with a neurological condition in Ireland, with almost 50,000 of those living in Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath.
The Regional Hospital Tullamore and the Regional Hospital Mullingar are both extremely limited in providing adequate care to the 50,000 people across the Midlands living with neurological conditions in need of the services. Currently patients from the Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore have to travel to St James Hospital in Dublin for their appointments due to of a lack of a sufficiently resourced neurology service within the hospital. Additionally, over 160 people are currently on a waiting list for neurology services in Regional Hospital Mullingar.