To ask the Minister for Health if Beaumont Hospital is lacking five neurology nurse specialists (Beaumont Hospital is the main neurology centre for your constituents, but it is short of neurology nurse specialists. Patients are unnecessarily waiting longer for diagnosis and treatment. Based on the catchment area, national and international guidelines recommend that there should be 15 neurology nurse specialists, but there are only 10. Patients deserve better. I’m asking for your help to make this better. Investing in more neurology nurses is a cost efficient way of improving the efficiency of outpatient clinics, reducing waiting times and ensuring that patients have access to the specialist support they need to manage their conditions. Patients with access to neurology nurses have reported improved psychological well-being and improved sense of involvement in their care, being more prepared for tests and investigations. More neurology nurses will also ensure that patients get quicker access to outpatient appointments, thereby reducing waiting lists and ensuring that any deterioration in the patient’s health status can be mitigated. This will also ensure that additional hospital resources can be focused on those that need it. I support the Neurological Association of Ireland’s campaign for 100 extra neurology nurse specialists across Ireland which includes 5 extra nurses for Beaumont Hospital. I’m asking you to do the same because patients at Beaumont Hospital deserve better.); the efforts that are being made to fill these posts; when the posts will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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