Active Neuro employed an integrated care approach to delivering health promoting physical activity programmes for adults with neurological conditions in the community in CHO Area 3 which succeeded in having high attendance, excellent satisfaction and led to improvements in physical and mental health symptoms. Specialist physiotherapists were key to Active Neuro’s success as outcomes were optimised through a transformative approach to telehealth and exclusive focus on neurological conditions.
The success of Active Neuro has led to MS Ireland’s proposal for sustainable funding for a national physiotherapy service, provided by a specialist team of physiotherapists directly employed by MS Ireland and delivered at a regional level using a blend of ‘online’ and ‘in-person’ programmes / services.
This service would comprise group health promoting physical activity and symptom management strategies alongside individual treatment to adapt, maintain and prevent as needed by the person living with MS, and other neurological conditions.
MS Ireland will be releasing our Pre-Budget Submission in the coming weeks in which we are calling on the Government to provide this sustainable funding in Budget 2023 to assist in realising the Sláintecare vision of providing the right care in the right place at the right time, and by the right people – our team of specialised physiotherapists.