Dear Deputy/Senator,

Community neuro-rehabilitation is a vital support for people living with neurological conditions, helping to support recovery and prevent disability.  However, only 15% of people have access to community neuro-rehabilitation teams.  Thankfully people in your constituency have access to a community neuro-rehabilitation team, but it is vital that this existing team is fully resourced to carry out its work.  

 I request that you support people living with neurological conditions, their families and carers, by asking the Minister for Health to fully resource existing community neuro-rehabilitation teams and set up a community neuro-rehabilitation team in every community health organisation.

The vital importance of community rehabilitation teams is recognised by the health system.  A team was promised for every CHO area but only two of the nine have been delivered.  For people living with acquired conditions such as stroke and brain injury these teams allow them to leave hospitals more quickly to continue their recovery at home, reducing the need for longer term care while receiving necessary care close to where they live.  For people living with progressive conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease access to these teams can help prevent unnecessary disability and hospital readmissions.

Putting in place community neuro-rehabilitation teams makes sense.  These teams reduce the average length of stay in hospital and could result in saving over 42,000 bed days each year.  It also makes financial sense, for every €1 spend on these teams the health service saves €11.

Please support those living with a neurological condition by calling for a community neuro-rehabilitation team to be set up in every CHO.  These teams provide vital services that result in better outcomes, improved physical and psychological wellbeing and greater independence.

Yours faithfully,

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