Current Advocacy issues

national physiotherapy programme

Ask for sustainable funding for MS Ireland to deliver a national health promoting physical activity physiotherapy services for people with Multiple Sclerosis, and other neurological conditions at a total of €880,000 per annum

MS Ireland is seeking funding from the 2024 National Service Plan for a programme to directly employ a Senior Physiotherapist in each HSE CHO area to enable 1,458 people living with Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological conditions to receive group physiotherapy programmes and to deliver 3,726 individual appointments per annum.

The funding of this programme would provide much needed specialist services at a local level and address many of the issues associated with insufficient access to local primary care due to long waiting lists.

The programme will cost €880,000 per annum to run nationally or €94,000 per CHO and will support the HSE in reducing the burden on primary care waiting lists, avoid A&E and OPD pinch points and prevent disability and comorbidities. Extensive research has shown the effectiveness of this service in reducing symptom severity, disability, falls and healthcare utilisation.

MS Ireland has consistently demonstrated the organisational capacity to run these programmes on budget, on time and exceeding output and outcomes targets and has the appropriate clinical and organisational governance systems in place. This specialist physiotherapy team will leverage the extensive experience, knowledge, systems and governance that are already in place and ready to expand.

Have Your Say! Please help MS Ireland to secure this funding and help open the service to even more people living with MS by contacting your local representative. We have a sample letter/mail which you can use to contact your local TD. We encourage you to personalise your letter and share any personal experiences which may support our request for Budget 2024.

You can find the names and contact details for your local TDs HERE.  Simply click your constituency on the map and a list of all your local political representatives will come up.

MS respite Centre

Ask to increase annual statutory investment in The National MS Respite Centre by €627,000

MS Ireland is seeking €627,000 in additional funding to see the National MS Respite Centre, a 12 bedded unit which provides respite care to people living with Multiple Sclerosis and other progressive neurological conditions, expand its opening to 350 days per annum, providing an additional 1,248 bed nights annually.

At present, the National MS Respite Centre is only open for 40 weeks per year as a result of decreases in both statutory and fundraised income over the last number of years. The National MS Respite Centre plays a crucial role in ensuring family carers are supported and delivers a range of therapeutic services, neurological assessments and many social activities, all designed to prevent crisis and keep people living with neurological conditions well at home.

The National MS Respite Centre is HIQA accredited and fully equipped to meet the needs of people living with Multiple Sclerosis and offers a homely environment in which people living with Multiple Sclerosis can interact with each other, engage in activities, and be cared for in a comfortable and safe environment. MS Ireland believes that all people who require respite care in the National MS Respite Centre should have access to it.

In order to deliver this to our community members, additional annual statutory funding is essential. To restore the National MS Respite Centre to operating 350 days, providing an additional 1,248 bed nights per year, we require an increase in funding of €627,000 per annum.

This funding will provide high quality respite care, from experienced neurological nurses and healthcare staff. Increased respite availability will not only benefit those using our service and their families, but it also assists the HSE in alleviating pressure on an already inadequate number of respite beds.

Have Your Say! Please help MS Ireland to secure this funding and help open the service to even more people living with MS by contacting your local representative. We have a sample letter/mail which you can use to contact your local TD. We encourage you to personalise your letter and share any personal experiences which may support our request for Budget 2024.

You can find the names and contact details for your local TDs HERE.  Simply click your constituency on the map and a list of all your local political representatives will come up.

Community neuro-rehabilitation teams

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.

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, 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.

Get involved: For further information on this campaign and how to get involved, please visit: www.patientsdeservebetter.ie

The viability of disability organisations

Services for disabled people are threatened by a crisis in the recruitment and retention of staff in Section 39 funded disability organisations. The primary cause is reduced statutory funding for Section 39 funded organisations, which causes a disparity in pay and conditions compared to their HSE and Section 38 counterparts.  

This is an ongoing and increasingly urgent issue for disabled people and their families. In some cases, this situation threatens the viability of disability organisations. 

Over two thirds of all disability services are delivered by the voluntary sector. Therefore, the recruitment and retention crisis in Section 39 disability organisations is having a catastrophic impact on essential services.  

Government action is needed to bring this issue to resolution.

Get involved: For further information on this campaign and how to get involved, please visit: Take Action | Disability Federation of Ireland (disability-federation.ie)

GET IN TOUCH

Contact Alison Cotter by email: alisonc@ms-society.ie