Galway native highlights critical shortage of neurology nurses
A Galway native offered an insight to the county’s TDs and senators last week of the reality living life with epilepsy – against the backdrop of a critical shortage in specialist nurses in the county.
Aoife Kelly from Belclare is both living with epilepsy and she is also a patient advocate, demanding proper services for those who live with the illness.
And she was part of a delegation led by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), which held a briefing on the issue for Oireachtas members from Galway in Leinster House.
The NAI brings together 30 non-profit organisations to advocate for the rights of 800,000 people in Ireland living with a neurological condition.
Last October, they launched their Patients Deserve Better campaign to highlight the need for more nurse specialists in neurology in Galway and nationwide.
Based on local and international recommendations, they said that Galway University Hospital needs thirteen nurse specialists in neurology.
But as it stands, the hospital has just four – a shortfall of nine nurse specialists caring for people in Galway and surrounding counties.
Aoife was joined on the delegation by NAI Executive Director Magdalen Rogers; Professor Orla Hardiman, National Clinical Lead for Neurology; and Tony Wilkinson, a Corkman living with Parkinson’s Disease.
The patient advocates and representatives from the medical profession shared their experiences about the impact the shortage of nurse specialists in neurology is having on waiting lists and service delivery.
And they were unanimous in their opinion that nurses specialising in neurology are key to tackling waiting lists for neurology services and improving patient care.
Magdalen Rogers said they were pleased with the ‘strong levels of support we have received from TDs and Senators from Galway for our campaign’.
“Waiting lists for neurology services have increased by over 80 per cent since 2015. According to Irish and international best practice guidelines, we have an overall shortfall of 100 nurse specialists across neurology services,” she said.
“Nurse specialists in neurology are key to tackling waiting lists and improving outcomes for patients. We are calling on TDs and Senators from Galway to support our call to significantly increase the number of nurse specialists in neurology over the next five years, starting with Budget 2023,” she added.
Afterwards, Deputy Sean Canney said the current situation was not tenable, and he said the Minister for Health needed to ensure that the necessary funding is put in place to fill the capacity shortage.
“Patients with conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Motor Neurone Disease, Spina Bifida, Parkinson’s Disease, Muscular Dystrophy, Stroke, Migraine and other conditions all are affected by the lack of the recommended Neurology Specialist nurses,” he said.
The Patients Deserve Better campaign is seeking investment to tackle the serious shortage of nurse specialists in neurology.
The campaign is working with people with neurological conditions including: the Parkinson's Association of Ireland; the Irish Heart Foundation and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
(Photo: Deputy Sean Canney with patient advocate Aoife Kelly from Belclare at Leinster House).