Mayo neurology patients suffering due to absence of local outpatient services
Neurology patients in Mayo are travelling over 150km round-trip to see their neurologists which leads to poorer outcomes for patients.
That’s according to the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) which launched a new campaign seeking commitments from elected representatives and the HSE to provide outpatient consultant neurology services at Mayo University Hospital.
The regional campaign was launched at an online briefing today for elected representatives from Mayo.
Speakers at the launch included patient representative Louise Power from Ballina, Magdalen Rogers, executive director, Neurological Alliance of Ireland; and Professor Dr Marwa Elamin, consultant neurologist, University Hospital Galway.
Patient representative, Louise Power, who is living with Multiple Sclerosis, described her experience.
She said: “Living with a neurological condition like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) means that everything has to be planned.
"MS and its symptoms are the unknown, but appointments are something we can plan for.
"If I have an appointment in University Hospital Galway, I need to consider childcare for the day, I need to plan meals for myself and my family and if I’m going to be too tired in the days after, I’ll need to plan for those days too. When you’re living with a neurological condition you always need to plan ahead.
“I’ve been living with MS since 2015 and since then, for every appointment in University Hospital Galway, I’ve had to travel at least two hours to get to my appointment and also factor in another half an hour to find parking.
"That’s not even mentioning traffic. The fatigue from travelling, treatment and the appointment can knock you for days after.
"This applies to all neurological conditions, not just MS. Some people living with neurological conditions are also unable to drive so would use a taxi to get to appointments adding an additional financial burden to an already stressful situation.
“I am also living with other autoimmune conditions, not just my MS, meaning I attend other appointments in University Hospital Galway.
"If I was able to attend a neurological clinic closer to home in Mayo University Hospital, which is only 35 minutes from my home, this would reduce the impact the journey has on my overall wellbeing.
"The decisions our government makes will have lifelong implications for people living with neurological conditions, that’s why we need them to act now!”
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Magdalen Rogers, NAI executive director, said: “Access to a consultant neurologist should not depend on where you live, yet people with chronic long-term neurological conditions are regularly travelling between 60-112km to see their neurologist.
"We know that patients travelling long distances for treatment suffer poorer outcomes, from delays in diagnosis to living with debilitating symptoms.
“Providing consultant neurology outpatient services in Mayo University Hospital and regional hospitals across Ireland will not only have a positive impact on a patient’s overall health, but it reduces unnecessary admissions, reduces length of stay and unnecessary tests.
"Early access to diagnosis and treatment means that we can prevent disability, reduce complications and provide better quality of life for those living with neurological conditions.
“Set out in Sláintecare reform, patients have the right to access services closer to their homes and our elected representatives have a responsibility to see this promise through.
"We are calling on elected representatives in Mayo and the HSE to commit to delivering these services for the over 860,000 people living with neurological conditions across Ireland.”