The number of people waiting for more than one year for an outpatient appointment to see a neurologist has jumped in recent months, the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) has warned.

Neurological conditions affect the brain and spinal cord and these can include stroke, epilepsy, migraine and acquired brain injuries, such as following a car accident.

According to the NAI, which represents over 30 organisations working with affected people and their families, last May, 949 people had been waiting for more than 12 months for an outpatient appointment to see a neurologist. However by September, this figure had risen to 1,695 - an increase of 746.

The alliance insisted that these figures are ‘representative of an overall increase across the health service' in relation to the number of people waiting longer than a year for an outpatient appointment.

However, it said that it is ‘very concerned about the rate of increase in recent months'.

"We are now a long way from the Government's target that no one would be waiting more than 12 months for an outpatient appointment," it added.