This article is from page 2 of the 2006-04-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
CLARE patients awaiting neurological assessment at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital are being forced to wait years, according to Labour TD, Jan O’ Sullivan.
A single visiting neurologist, who works at Limerick two days a month, has not taken new patient referrals for two years, resulting in them being sent instead, to hospitals in Galway, Cork and Dublin.
Deputy O’ Sullivan said that thousands of people in the mid-west, suffering from conditions such as such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and many other conditions, were effected.
“This is a matter of urgency because the visiting neurologist no longer accepts new patients,” she told the Dáil.
“The situation is woefully inadequate and very distressing for patients. General practitioners have been instructed to refer new patients to Dublin, Cork or Galway”.
Deputy O’ Sullivan revealed that a circular sent to GPs in the mid-west region, two years ago, confirmed the waiting list for neurological assessment had “grown substantially and waiting times for routine appointments of several years are not uncommon.”
Yet the situation had not improved since then. She pointed out that the Comhairle na nOspidéal report on neurology and neurophysiology, of April 2003, recommended that a post be developed in Limerick. The national task force on medical staffing recommended further neurological posts in the country.
“I have raised this issue by way of parliamentary question at least three times and we are still waiting for a most essential service in the midwestern region”.
In response, Minister for State at the Department of Health, Tim O’Malley, said that as part of the estimates for the health services in 2006, additional funding of €3 million was allocated to the Health Service Executive specifically for the further development of neurology and neurophysiology services nationally.
“The Mid-Western Regional Hospital has the services of a visiting consultant neurologist two days per month. The consultant provides an out-patient service for review or return patients and an in-patient consultation service.
“Due to pressure on the existing service, new patient referrals are forwarded to the neurological services at Cork, Galway or Dublin. ln view of the pressures, the development of neurology services at the mid-western regional hospital is an urgent priority for the Health Service Executive in 2006.”
He said that the Government was committed to the continued development of neurology services nationally and that resources had been made available to commence neurology services in Limerick in 2006.