The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children has supported the Neurological Alliance of Ireland's call for a national programme for neurological care and will be writing to the Minister for Health and Children and the HSE, urging them to put such a plan in place.
Despite the fact that over 700,000 people in Ireland are living with neurological conditions (including 37,000 people with epilepsy), the response of our health service to meeting their needs continues to be hampered by a lack of investment and planning.
The NAI campaign, Vote for Thinking Ahead calls for a national programme for neurological care that will see the HSE prioritise service development and spending in this area.
Members of the public are asked to sign an online petition on the NAI website, www.nai.ie. The campaign is supported by the over thirty charities, including Brainwave and other groups that are members of the NAI.
Mags Rogers, Development Manager with the Neurological Alliance of Ireland notes that "Our report made it clear that the current situation cannot continue. The Vote for Thinking Ahead campaign gives everyone a chance to do something practical, we want to get as many signatories as possible. People with neurological conditions in Ireland have always waited while other areas of our health system received greater priority, they cannot be made to wait any longer".
Visitors to the online petition can also download details of how to contact their local TD to make them aware of this issue, and access a Facebook page to share their experiences.
The Vote for Thinking Ahead campaign will continue over the coming months with a series of meetings to present the petition around the country. To receive regular updates, sign up to the online petition at www.nai.ie.
See also:
Thinking Ahead: Sign the petition
Neurological Charities call on the HSE to establish a National Programme for Neurological Care
