Representatives from the Neurological Alliance of Ireland met with Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Anne Rabbitte, on 11th November 2020. 

The group highlighted their serious concern at the lack of progress in implementing the three year framework for the Neurorehabilitation Strategy (2019-2021), a key commitment in the current Programme for Government and the Slaintecare Action Plan. 

Published nearly a decade on from the launch of the Strategy, the three year period for the Implementation Framework is due to end in December 2021. Two years in: the framework has only been rolled out in two CHO (Community Health Organisation) areas, with no new services at all developed in any of the remaining seven CHOs including the Ministers own constituency: a significant blackspot in terms of neurorehabilitation services. 

NAI called for a strong commitment to progressing the Framework in 2021 which they wish to see outlined in the upcoming HSE Service Plan. This should prioritise the establishment of community based teams in every CHO in the country: as committed to within the Framework. A successor plan must be put in place beyond 2021 to develop day, vocational and residential neurorehabilitation services in the community to support the work of these teams. 

The umbrella is due to meet with Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly in the New Year to address these concerns.