HSE urged to fund woman’s rehab

THE father of a paralysed mum forced to travel abroad for rehabilitation pleaded with health bosses last night to fund her treatment.

In a desperate plea, Pat O’Leary, whose daughter Catherine could not get a rehab bed in Ireland, also appealed for lottery winners to help.

He was speaking after the Health Service Executive South confirmed that it has yet to decide if it will fund Catherine’s vital, but expensive, treatment in Britain.

Catherine, 31, from Ballincollig in Co Cork was left paralysed after surgery to remove a brain tumour in February.

She suffered “locked-in syndrome” which left her fully alert, awake and aware of what is going on around her, but unable to move or speak.

She could only communicate by blinking — once for yes, twice for no.

Doctors said she urgently needed a place in the specialist National Rehabilitation Centre in Dublin but none was available.

Catherine has been confined to a high-dependency bed in Cork University Hospital since the operation in February.

Her family has been at her bedside constantly. She has battled several infections but even regained some control of her speech.

Pat said the family was devastated earlier this month when she contracted the potentially fatal hospital-acquired superbug MRSA.

But a test result yesterday shows she is finally clear of the infection.

Frustrated at watching his daughter languish in hospital, Pat visited the leading Royal Hospital for Neuro-

disability in Putney, near London, which specialises in treating people who have suffered brain damage or nervous system damage after traffic accidents or illnesses.

On Monday, they offered her a place on a 12-week assessment programme which could lead to a nine-month rehabilitation programme. Pat is hopeful that Catherine can travel within a month to begin therapy there.

But the HSE was unable to confirm yesterday whether or not it will pick up the tab. “Full details of the treatment plan and related costs from the Royal Hospital in Putney are awaited in order to progress the issue of funding,” a spokeswoman said.

Pat said he is shocked that the costs issue hasn’t been sorted already.

“I’d travel with her tomorrow if I could. I’d sell everything I have to get her the help. I’ve even put my car up for sale,” he said.

“The HSE must get this sorted as soon as possible. We are heading in to our sixth month with this now.”

Fundraising for Catherine’s long-term care continues through the Catherine O’Leary Fund, Permanent TSB, North Main Street, Cork, A/C: 12536790; Sort Code: 99-07-07.