Magdalen Rogers
Executive Director, Neurological Alliance of Ireland
Neurological diseases now represent the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years and the second leading cause of death for adults worldwide.
The Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) brings together over 30 nonprofit organisations to advocate on behalf of the 800,000 people in Ireland living with a neurological condition. National Brain Awareness Week is a nationwide advocacy initiative organised and coordinated by the NAI in March each year.
Growing awareness for brain health
The theme of Brain Awareness Week 2023 is the need for investment in brain health, recognising that one in three of us will develop a neurological condition in our lifetime and there is a critical need for our health system to respond to this challenge.
Ireland will have to overcome serious obstacles if it is to mount an effective response to the challenge of brain health.
Responding to the challenge of brain disorders
The World Health Organization’s publication of a ten-year framework for Neurological Disorders and Epilepsy in 2022 represents a wake-up call for WHO member countries — such as Ireland — to address the burden of neurological disease.
Ireland will have to overcome serious obstacles if it is to mount an effective response to the challenge of brain health. There is a critical need to invest in services for the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of neurological conditions as well as a public health approach aimed at reducing the risk of developing preventable neurological diseases.
National action towards brain health
The NAI Patients Deserve Better campaign, a partnership with Roche Ireland which successfully campaigned to secure 23 additional neurology nurse specialists in 2023, is now calling for the establishment of a nationwide network of community neurorehabilitation teams for people living with neurological conditions. Only 15% of Irish neurological patients have access to a community neurorehabilitation team.
Investing in community neurorehabilitation teams improves the function and wellbeing of patients. These teams are also cost-effective, saving up to 42,000 bed days each year. For every euro spent on teams, the health service saves 11 euros.
To learn more, visit www.nai.ie. For more information on the Patients Deserve Better campaign, visit www.patientsdeservebetter.ie and follow the campaign on social media #patientsdeservebetter
This article is endorsed by Roche