Previous Campaigns

Patients Deserve Better

Only 15% of patients have access to community neuro-rehabilitation teams

A collaboration between the Neurological Alliance of Ireland and Roche Products (Ireland) Ltd

In November 2022, the Neurological Alliance of Ireland launched the next iteration of the Patients Deserve Better campaign which focused on the fact that only 15% of patients have access to a community neuro-rehabilitation team. The Implementation Framework for the HSE National Strategy & Policy for the Provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland was published in 2019 and outlined that a team should be developed in all 9 Community Health Organisations across the country, but to date only 2 had been put in place. These teams provide critical support to patients with spinal injuries and progressive neurological conditions as close to home as possible. A virtual launch meeting was held for the 7 CHOs without teams and Consultants from across Rehabilitation, Neurology, Stroke and Dementia and patient representatives outlined the desperate need for these team to be created as soon as possible. A total of 92 Parliamentary Questions were issued to seek clarity on this issue and 135 media pieces were generated across print, radio and television.

Patients Deserve Better

Ireland needs an extra 100 neurology nurses

A collaboration between the Neurological Alliance of Ireland and Roche Products (Ireland) Ltd

In October 2021, the Neurological Alliance of Ireland launched the Patients Deserve Better campaign which highlighted the critical importance of neurology nurses in our health system and the severe under-resourcing of this role. Based on local and international figures Ireland should have 142 neurology nurses, but at this time only had 42. Consultant Neurologists, Neurology Nurses and Patient Representatives all spoke at a total of 6 regional virtual launches to discuss the importance of the neurology nurse role and the needs of each individual hospital (Limerick, Cork, Sligo, Galway, Waterford & Dublin). A total of 131 Parliamentary Questions were generated to seek clarity on this issue and neurology nurses were mentioned in 22 Parliamentary Debates.

On 28th September 2022, speaking in Dáil Éireann, Minister Anne Rabbitte confirmed that as part of Budget 2023 “€1.7 million has been secured to invest in the neurological nursing workforce, with more than 23 additional neurological nursing whole-time equivalents across neurological centres.”

MSunderstood Cafe & Bus

a collaboration between MS Ireland and Roche Products (Ireland) Ltd

MSunderstood Café and Roadshow Gives Customers a Taste of Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

In March 2018, MS Ireland opened the MSunderstood Cafe in the heart of Dublin, inviting members of the public in to experience a small taste of the challenges people living with MS experience on a daily basis. The pop-up cafe was designed to be a challenging experience that simulated some of the symptomatic impact of MS and due to a hugely positive response, the cafe experience was taken on the road for a 10 day Irish tour with the MSunderstood Bus.

Ava Battles, Chief Executive, MS Ireland said, “MS Ireland believes that people with MS should have access to the right treatment at the right time. This may seem like a very basic demand, and one that it would be hard to refuse, but the truth is that this is not the situation for many people in Ireland today. We hope that Irish politicians and policy makers will realise how crucial speedy access to treatment is and change our market access system without delay.”