South-East patients forced to travel over lack of neurological service

ADULTS and children with serious neurological conditions are being forced to endure torturous return trips from Waterford to Cork and Dublin because of a lack of local services.

They are also waiting longer than most even to get an appointment with a neurologist.

A two-year-old report highlights the need for a locally based service for the 55,000 people in the Waterford region who suffer strokes, as well as conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, epilepsy and hydrocephalus.

This morning, interest groups from across the South-East will gather in Waterford to press the case for dedicated neurological services in the region.

Currently, people in the South-East have to take four-hour long return trips to centres in Dublin and Cork to avail of neurology services. Those with neurological conditions often suffer side-effects such as fatigue and these long journeys are adding to the trauma of sufferers looking for help, according to Clíodhna Carroll of Headway Ireland.

Those who do manage to get an appointment must often wait six months or more to see a specialist. A report by Dr Orla Hardiman into waiting times for neurologists shows that 18% of people in the south east typically wait six months or more to see their specialist.

This compares to just 6.4% of sufferers in the North-East region waiting a similar time.

A 2003 Review of Neurology and Neurophysiology carried out by Comhairle Na nOspidéal recommended the appointment of four neurologists to Waterford Regional Hospital.

But two years on from the report, not one has been appointed.

“The report recommended that we should have four neurologists here in the South-East. But to date, none have been appointed.

“There have been ongoing talks between experts in Waterford and Cork as to how the service would be managed, but no appointments,” Ms Carroll said.

“We, as a group of people working with people with neurological conditions in the South-East, are keen to see the implementation of this recommendation,” Ms Carroll added.

The conference runs from 10am to 1pm today at Waterford’s Woodlands Hotel.