A key Government initiative in the area of rehabilitation is the commitment by the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to develop a national policy and strategy for the provision of medical rehabilitation services. It is expected that this will:
Define the scope of rehabilitation services;
Research best practice approaches to rehabilitation services;
Assess the needs of the population;
Outline a model of service delivery that will encompass all stages of service required to meet the needs of service users;
Recommend a framework that will ensure that service developments are within an agreed national framework with common principles;
Develop an approach in line with the transformation of HSE services toward increased delivery at primary care level.
The strategy will focus on the service provision needs of the following categories:
Static and progressive neurological conditions; traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury; and
persons with other physically disabling conditions who may benefit from medical, psychological or social rehabilitation service provision.
A Steering Group, comprised of senior officials from the Department of Health and Children and the HSE, has been established to oversee the development of the policy and strategy. A Working Group has also been formed, which will assist with the production of the policy and strategy. This Group met for the first time in July and it is hoped that the National Policy and Strategy will be completed by the end of the year.
The Programme for Government committed to increasing the existing rehabilitation capacity in addition to redeveloping the National Rehabilitation Hospital. The HSE has informed the Department of Health and Children that plans have been prepared to develop a satellite unit of the National Rehabilitation Hospital attached to Beaumont Hospital, linking the rehabilitation expertise of NRH with the neurological services in Beaumont. This new proposed unit will provide acute medical rehabilitation services and early rehabilitation for those suffering from brain injury who access the National Neurosciences Unit at Beaumont Hospital and who currently have to access services at the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Plans are also being advanced to develop rehabilitation services on the campus of Merlin Park Hospital in Galway. The Working Group will consider the appropriate strategy for service provision including this proposed extension of facilities and the proposed new units.