Brain injury services need separate funding

AS members of psychological services working with Headway, the National Association for Brain Injury, we noted with interest Evelyn Ring’s article (June 28)on acquired brain injury (ABI) funding.

Ms Ring outlined the dearth of extra funding available to ABI service providers. Virtually all health service providers will be looking to Health Minister Mary Harney for an increase in funding; no doubt, prioritising such funds is a challenging job.

Currently, ABI is not funded as a disability in its own right; rather it shares core funding with other health conditions.

Perhaps one of the most difficult things in planning services for those with an ABI is the enduring nature of the condition. This results in clients requiring access to various services at different points along their journey with ABI. Thus, long-term service planning is required for many clients. With 10,000 people sustaining an ABI every year, perhaps it is time to have a separate budget for brain injury services. This would facilitate a coordinated approach among the many service providers currently involved in ABI services.

Dr Mairéad Ní Eidhín

Marianne Walshe

Christine Flynn

Psychological Services

Headway Ireland

The Lodge

University Technology Centre

Curaheen

Cork