Dan Boyle
Ceist:51 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps his Department intends to take to improve the ratio of neurologists per head of population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22575/03]
Written Answers. - Hospital Staff.
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:52 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children if he intends to act on the report of Comhairle na nOspidéal that the number of consultant neurologists should be doubled in the short-term and trebled in the long-term, especially in view of recent figures showing that there were more than 560 people waiting for brain surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22516/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 52 together.
Arising from a number of meetings with various interest groups, I requested Comhairle na nOspidéal to conduct a review of neurological services and related issues. Comhairle established a committee to, inter alia, examine existing arrangements for the provision of consultant-level neurology and neurophysiology services nationally and to make recommendations on the future organisation and development of those services.
The Comhairle report has recently been published and recommends significant enhancement of neurology and neurophysiology services, including increases in consultant manpower. The report also recognises that there are aspects of a number of other specialties and services such as rehabilitation medicine, geriatric medicine and old age psychiatry which are related to and overlap with neurology services. Comhairle has recommended that a national multi-disciplinary review of rehabilitation services be undertaken to further inform the policy framework in relation to the development of neurology services. Consistent with this recommendation, and in line with commitments in the national health strategy, a national action plan for rehabilitation services is currently being prepared by my Department. The action plan will set out a programme to meet existing shortfalls in services and to integrate specialised facilities with locally based follow-up services. The rehabilitation action plan, together with the Comhairle report and the work undertaken by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland through its own publications will, in my view, offer a more comprehensive policy framework for the future development of neurology and neurophysiology services in this country.
My Department will continue to work closely with the Alliance and the Irish Consultant Neurologists' Association (in the form of a joint working group) in relation to the future development of services.
The case for additional investment in neurology and neurophysiology will be progressed having regard to the evolving policy framework in this area.