Year’s wait to see a neurologist

PEOPLE in the Mid-West with neurological illnesses face a wait of more than a year to get to see a consultant, the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland president said.

Sid Rellis from Dooradoyle in Limerick said the problem is due to a dispute between consultants and the Department of Health which is blocking the appointment of a neurologist in the Mid-West.

Mr Rellis, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 13 years ago, said they were calling on Health Minister Mary Harney to sort out the matter and free the way for a neurologist to be appointed.

Mr Rellis, 66, said people diagnosed with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions in the Mid-West have to seek appointments with specialists in Cork, Dublin, Galway or Tralee.

“We have more than 700 people we know of diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the Mid-West and there is no consultant for this entire region,” he said.

There were many Irish neurologists working abroad who are prepared to come and work in the Mid-West if the Department of Health and the consultants can resolve a dispute over indemnity cover, he said.

“Anybody diagnosed with a neurological illness such as Parkinson’s in the Mid-West faces a wait of more than a year to get seen by a consultant. A visiting neurologist travels to Limerick two afternoons in the month. Our association has made this a major issue,” Mr Rellis said.

To help give follow-up care and advice, the association along with the former Mid-Western Health Board and money from the JP McManus trust, recruited a specialist nurse who is now paid for by the Health Service Executive.

Mr Rellis said: “The specialist nurse, Mags Richardson, went to England to train and she visits people in their homes and gives them advise and monitors their dosages of medicine.”

Una Anderson-Ryan, treasurer of the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland, said following recent talks with Ms Harney they were confident the Mid-West is now top of the list for the appointment of a neurologist.

“There are many neurologists working abroad who would be willing to come home and work in the Mid-West, but the department cannot draw up any new contract due to this dispute about indemnity, with consultants,” said Ms Anderson-Ryan.

* The Parkinson’s Association of Ireland is holding an information day at University College Cork, on October 23, 2-6pm.