BRAIN INJURY PATIENTS ON 6 MONTH WAITING LIST; Delays will last to 2012.

Byline: EOIN REYNOLDS

PEOPLE with devastating spine and brain injuries are waiting over six months for proper care, figures revealed yesterday.

The National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, the only one of its kind in the country, is overloaded and can't cope with demand.

As a result, 150 patients who have suffered spinal injuries, brain injuries, strokes, motor neuron disease and loss of limbs have been on the list for six months.

This is despite experts insisting early intervention is vital if people are to have the best chance of rehabilitation.

And the long delays are expected to continue until at least 2012 when a EUR200 million, 235-bed wing is due to be completed at the NRH.

But that project could be put on hold as the Government looks to cut hundreds of millions from the annual health budget.

Labour's Jan O'Sullivan said the figures show this project is vital and must not be "mothballed" to save cash.

She added: "That is one capital project that must not be allowed to slip down the list.

"The capacity at the NRH is already way below what's required because it is so vital to get people in as early as possible. It is heartbreaking for people in a position where they can't access care."

Dr Aine Carroll has also warned that once the facility is built, it must be adequately staffed and resourced if it is to have a positive impact.

She added: "Our goal is to be able to provide new services to a greater number of patients.

"This new building will enable us to achieve our goals of helping patients return to the highest level of function and independence possible, but we will not see large-scale improvements until we have secured the funding for staff we require."

Of the 150 currently on the list 16 are children, 56 have suffered spinal injuries, 32 have brain injuries, 18 suffered a stroke and 12 have conditions like motor neuron disease. A further 10 have lost a limb.

Most of the injuries were sustained in road traffic accidents and falls.

Patients treated at the NRH spend between two and four months at the specialist unit. Most are then moved to outpatient clinics in other hospitals.

is Spinal cord injuries require the longest treatments, with such patients staying for an average of 111 days.

It is estimated that 10,000 people suffer brain injuries every year in Ireland.

The hospital provides education to those patients in need of rehabilitation.

CAPTION(S):

DEMAND National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire