People with neuro rehabilitative needs identify challenges, gaps and opportunities in neuro-rehabilitation care

People with neuro-rehabilitative needs living in the community have identified challenges, gaps and opportunities in neuro-rehabilitation care in Ireland. 

A neuro-mapping project, led by the HSE, Disability Federation of Ireland and the Neurological Alliance of Ireland engaged with 56 people with neurological conditions and 137 service providers to establish the current picture of community neuro-rehabilitation services in Ireland.  The voices of people with lived experience of neurological conditions are an important element of the neuro mapping project.

This mapping project has resulted in the Report on the Neuro-Mapping Project Phase 2 which recommends:

• Increasing knowledge and information on services that are available in the community for people with neurological conditions
• Improving how services work together
• Providing access to services based on need
• Funding and resourcing specialist services in the community
• Designing future services to support the continuum of care for people with neurological conditions.

The recommendations will be developed into actionable objectives under the National Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy.  

A similar project, engaging with people with neuro-rehabilitative needs and service providers, will take place in three years’ time to determine what progress has been made in community neuro-rehabilitation service provision.

Launching the report Minister Anne Rabbitte, Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Disability) said, “I’m delighted to launch Phase 2 of the neuro-mapping project which builds on the report and outputs of Phase 1 and aims to further understand current service and support pathways between existing and developing community services for those with neuro-rehabilitative needs through engagement with the people who use these services and service providers.

“I’m happy to see the National Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy Steering Group have established a community work stream tasked with exploring how services established through the can be aligned and integrated with all existing Community Neuro-Rehabilitation services.”

Bernard O’Regan, Assistant National Director, HSE National Disability Team said, “The most important part of this report is the benchmark that it gives for us, as we seek to develop and improve services for people with neurological conditions.  I look forward to revisiting this work in 3 years and examine the progress we have made.  I would like to acknowledge all those who have contributed to this report, and particularly like to thank the lived experience participants.”

Dr Emer Begley, Director of Advocacy, Disability Federation of Ireland said, “Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) valued the partnership with the Neurological Alliance of Ireland and the HSE on this project to identify the service and support needs of people with neuro-rehabilitative, and to ascertain the challenges they face as they seek to maximise their independence. The frustrations expressed by those with lived experience who participated in the project give harsh insights into the challenges they face on a daily basis. DFI welcomes the comprehensive recommendations outlined in the report and we look forward to working collectively, and in partnership with all stakeholders to progress their implementation.”

Magdalen Rogers, Executive Director Neurological Alliance of Ireland said, “This project was about listening directly to people’s experiences and learning from their insights. There is a real opportunity for the HSE to work together with all stakeholders, including the voluntary sector, to implement the recommendations in full in order to develop responsive services to those with neuro-rehabilitative needs in the community.”