HEALTH SERVICES
NEUROLOGY
Covid pandemic exposes capacity issues in neurology services
Neurology and neurorehabilitation services were already significantly overstretched before the pandemic, according to the Neurological Alliance of Ireland
September 8, 2023
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The Covid pandemic has had a major ongoing impact on access to neurological care services in Ireland, according to a new report.
Published recently by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, the report shows that the pandemic exposed a lack of capacity across neurology and neurorehabilitation services, which were already overstretched before Covid.All of the research participants reported that they do not have confidence that there will be capacity within neurological care services to address the backlog and pent-up demand post pandemic as a result of disruption to services.More than one in ten respondents to the survey self-identified as having long-term neurological symptoms after contracting Covid-19. Being unable to access neurological services led to feelings of despair, anxiety and distress about their condition deteriorating further. 96% of this cohort reported being unable to access neurorehabilitation services.Neurological care services are struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels due to under resourcing pre Covid-19, with more than a third of respondents stating they were concerned that they would not be able to access essential services over the following 12 months.Voluntary providers have shown flexibility in responding to the needs of their service users when pandemic restrictions were in force, but the pandemic also produced a unique set of demands including the need for psychological support. They have seen an increase in demand for counselling services as people experience increasing level of paranoia and anxiety as a result of the pandemic.