Yesterday MS Ireland joined other organisations at the Mansion House in Dublin to hear the results of a new national survey conducted by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), Living with a Neurological Condition in Ireland.
The overall findings highlight the challenges facing people with neurological conditions and the significant impact of cuts to health services and changes to benefits and entitlements in the last three years on their day to day lives. The results also highlight a drastic increase in access barriers to services.
Key findings
1. People with neurological conditions who found it more difficult to access crucial services or could get no service at all (services detailed below)
- Personal Assistant – 74%
- Respite Care – 70%
- Psychologist – 60%
- Aids & Appliances – 60%
- Speech & Language Therapy – 55%
- Occupational Therapy – 52%
- Physiotherapy – 48%
2. Changes to benefits and entitlements have impacted significantly on people with neurological conditions
- 42% of medical card holders lost their card
- 50% of medical card applications were refused
- 82% said they have been affected by increases in the cost of medication
- 68% by changes to mobility allowance
- 64% by cuts to home care packages
- 59% impacted by reductions in home help hours
- 54% affected by reductions in HSE transport services
3. People with neurological conditions are being forced to pay for basic care privately, at significant personal cost
- +40% reported paying privately for physiotherapy, neurology and aids and equipment
- People with neurological conditions and their families are worried about their future and the impact of further cuts
- 46% reported that worry about future cuts in health services, benefits and entitlements
These results make for harrowing reading and it is crystal clear that change is needed. MS Ireland will be working with the NAI and other partner organisations in the near future to ensure that the negative impact of current policies and cuts affecting people with MS is discussed at government level. We will also be calling on the government to address the needs of people with MS by implementing the National Neurorehabilitation Strategy.
A report on the comments made by political representatives at the launch to follow.
Further reading