Campaign launched for neurology services at Mayo University Hospital

Neurology patients in Mayo are said to be suffering due to the absence of outpatient neurology services at Mayo University Hospital.

According to the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), Mayo neurology patients are having to travel over 150km roundtrip to see their neurologists, leading to poorer outcomes for patients.

NAI launched a new campaign, seeking commitments from elected representatives and the HSE to provide outpatient consultant neurology services at Mayo University Hospital.

The campaign is calling on elected representatives to provide outpatient consultant neurology services in Bantry, Letterkenny, Mayo, Portlaoise, and Wexford to reduce the journeys required for those living with neurological conditions.

Patient representative, Louise Power, from Ballina, who is living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), said living with a condition like MS means ‘everything has to be planned’.   

Ms Power explained that MS and its symptoms are ‘the unknown, but appointments are something [she] can plan for’.

_{Ballina woman Louise Power, patient representative who is living with MS}

“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.

Ms Power said this goes for ‘all neurological conditions, not just MS’, and explained that many of those with neurological conditions are unable to drive so would use a taxi or public transport to get to appointments, adding another 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,” added Ms Power.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign, NAI Executive Director, Magdalen Rogers, said access to a consultant neurologist ‘should not depend on where you live’.

Ms Rogers explained that patients are regularly travelling between 60-112km to see their neurologist which causes poorer outcomes from delays in diagnosis, to living with debilitating symptoms.

She said: “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,” she added.

As set out in Sláintecare reform, patients have the right to access services closer to their homes, and Ms Rogers said 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,” she concluded.

Visit the Patients Deserve Better website for more information about the campaign.