Wicklow Td Raises Health Staffing Issues In Bray

Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore has once more raised the outstanding staffing issue for the neurorehabilitation centre in Bray

Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore has once more raised the outstanding staffing issue for the neurorehabilitation centre in Bray, County Wicklow, as some people have been waiting up to five years to access care.It follows a request in April for the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to ensure that the long-promised neuro-rehabilitation facility in Bray is not delayed any further by the HSE recruitment freeze.Over 860,000 people throughout Ireland are currently living with a neurological condition and that number is set to increase significantly with our growing and ageing population. The appointment of specialist nurses to look after patients with these conditions is now caught up in the HSE's recruitment freeze.Community neurorehabilitation teams are multi-disciplinary teams that provide vital care to support recovery and prevent disability for people with neurological conditions. According to National Neurorehabilitation Strategy, the implementation of which is a key commitment in the current Programme for Government, nine teams are required but only two have been delivered. This means that only 15pc of neurological patients in Ireland have access to a community neurorehabilitation team.Community Health Organisation 6 (CHO6), which includes Wicklow, Dún Laoghaire and Dublin South East does not have a team in place, despite funding being made available.During Questions on Promised Legislation on Tuesday, May 21, Deputy Whitmore raised the issue again with Taoiseach Simon Harris in the Dáil Chamber.