Planned extra beds in National Rehabilitation Hospital will still fall short of European norms

About 90% of referrals to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin come from acute hospitals around the country, HSE Dublin and South-East said. Picture: iStock

Extra beds planned for the National Rehabilitation Hospital will still leave Ireland short of European norms as patients are being left 10 months waiting for a place, figures show.

About 90% of referrals to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin come from acute hospitals around the country, HSE Dublin and South-East said.

Doctors warned this means road collision victims too injured to go home can spend months on hospital wards in the regions instead.

The HSE spokeswoman said this has broader impacts, adding: “Earlier access to specialist rehabilitation services provides the health service with a significant opportunity to address the issue of overcrowding in the acute hospital services.” 

She said currently the average waiting time for admission to the National Rehabilitation Hospital is four months while waiting time for high dependency programmes may be up to 10 months. 

Ongoing redevelopment saw 120 rooms open in 2024 and, when this is finished, it will deliver 240 beds.

That final figure, she said, is bringing Ireland closer to European norms for rehabilitation beds. The national strategy said 288 are needed. 

Doctors in the Irish Association of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (IAPRM) raised particular concerns around victims of road collisions.

“Serious road injury represents a hidden epidemic of disability,” it said.

Association president and consultant at Cork University Hospital/ Mercy University Hospital Dr John MacFarlane said better supports are needed along with improved road safety.

“Prevention is better than cure,” he said.

“The most common injury is traumatic brain injury, which can result in paralysis of certain limbs or it can cause cognitive and behavioural changes.”

In response to those concerns, the Department of Health said €129m has been invested so far in the National Rehabilitation Hospital redevelopment.

A spokesman said “proposals for phase two are currently being developed by the project team". 

Also in response to the association, the Department of Transport defended its record on road safety.

It hopes to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 50% within four years, with a long-term aim of as close as possible to zero by 2050.

The doctors called for more use of the 30km/h speed limit, and it aims to have this in place across built up and urban areas by March next year.

More use of safety cameras is also expected, including a focus on speeding, red light running, and bus lane infringements.

• Niamh Griffin is the Health Correspondent with the Irish Examiner.