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There is an urgent need for investment in neuro-rehabilitation services in Ireland.

We are co-signatories to a letter on this topic published in today’s Irish Times by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI).

The full text of the letter is here:

Neuro-rehabilitation – a ‘silent crisis’

Sir, – As the representatives of national charities representing people with neurological conditions, we are writing to express our extreme concern at the lack of action on tackling the “silent crisis” in neuro-rehabilitation in this country.

What we are calling for is a commitment from this Government to multiannual investment across hospital and community to deliver the neuro-rehabilitation services that are taken for granted across the rest of Europe.

Ireland is a European blackspot when it comes to neuro-rehabilitation services at every stage of the pathway from hospital to home.

Many are losing a vital window of recovery as they wait months for a neuro-rehab bed or appropriate services in the community.

The National Neuro-rehabilitation Strategy was published in 2011 with an implementation plan expected within six months.

We are still waiting for that plan over six years later.

Minister for Health Simon Harris committed to publishing the plan by June this year in line with the commitment in the programme for government. We now understand that deadline will not be met and no timeline has been given for when the plan will be delivered.

It is one year since we launched our “We Need Our Heads Examined” campaign for action on neuro-rehabilitation.

Since then, we have had more empty promises, following on from more than a decade of failure by successive ministers to address this health crisis, which is leaving thousands of Irish people each year experiencing the unnecessary burden of disability, unable to leave hospital or living in inappropriate settings and with families struggling to cope. – Yours, etc,

MAGDALEN ROGERS,

Executive Director,

Neurological Alliance

of Ireland;

KIERAN LOUGHRAN,

Chief Executive,

Headway;

THOMAS LILLIS,

Chairwoman,

Huntingtons Disease

Association of Ireland;

PAULA GILMORE,

Chief Executive,

Parkinsons Association

of Ireland;

BARBARA O’CONNELL,

Chief Executive,

Acquired Brain

Injury Ireland;

CHRIS MACEY,

Head of Advocacy,

Irish Heart Foundation;

RICHARD LODGE,

Chief Executive,

Muscular Dystrophy Ireland;

REINHARD SCHALER,

Chief Executive,

An Saol;

TINA LEONARD,

Head of Advocacy

and Public Affairs,

Alzheimer Society

of Ireland;

AVA BATTLES,

Chief Executive,

Multiple Sclerosis

Society of Ireland;

KATHLEEN O’MEARA,

Director

of Communications, Public Affairs and Fundraising

Rehab Group;

NATASHA SMITH,

Chairwoman,

Brain Tumour Ireland;

JAMES McCARTHY,

Chairman,

Spinal Injuries

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/neuro-rehabilitation-a-silent-crisis-1.3139482

We are very excited to announce that @TwitterDublin have chosen us as their charity partner for this year!

The good people at Twitter Dublin are going to be working with us, both to raise funds and to raise awareness of brain tumours here in Ireland.

Twitter Dublin’s James Murphy with Brain Tumour Ireland volunteers, Jimmy and Cliona

Pictured here with Brain Tumour Ireland volunteers, Jimmy and Cliona, is James Murphy who works in procurement at Twitter Dublin.

James was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year and received huge support from his Twitter colleagues. James is now thankfully back at work and doing well.

We are delighted that James’ colleagues voted for Brain Tumour Ireland as their charity partner this year, and we very much look forward to working with them.

You can check out James’ Sense of Tumour blog here.