Pioneering Website Provides Vital Link to Neurological Support National Brain Awareness Week, March 5th to 11th, will see the launch of a pioneering new website by Ireland’s neurological charities. Neuronetwork has been designed in association with health professionals to provide a single point for information on the wide range of specialist services provided by over 30 organisations. Mr Brian Murphy, National Primary Care and Social Inclusion Manager, HSE notes “Neuronetwork is unique, this is an outstanding example of charities working together to provide a streamlined support to staff across the health services”. The site is administered by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), the national umbrella group for neurological charities. Ellen O Dea, an Occupational Therapist Manager working in the community, was closely involved in the design of the website. She notes: “this website is invaluable to so many health professionals, both in the hospital and the community. It really is the leading edge of innovation in the charity sector”. Users can search the website by neurological condition, service type or service provider and they will be directed to their nearest service. The website also provides information on any upcoming conferences, seminars and training events being organised by the neurological charities. The NAI keynote conference for National Brain Awareness Week will take place in Dublin on March 6th and feature presentations by each of lead clinicians for the four national programmes for neurological care: stroke, epilepsy, neurology and rehabilitation. The conference will focus on securing resources for neurological care in a recession, pointing to the need for clinicians and charities to work together to ensure that the over 700,000 people with neurological conditions are not the unfair victims of the current recession. Chris Macey, Chair of NAI, notes “Neurological care in Ireland never received the investment it needed, even in the boom. Now with cuts in health spending, this group risk being marginalised once again”. For more information, view www.neuronetwork.ie or see more about National Brain Awareness Week on www.nai.ie