Hospital Services
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-24
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Sorca Clarke (SF), Longford-Westmeath

I want to return to the evidence, because the facts contained in the Neurological Alliance report are stark. Mullingar hospital is a model 3 hospital. The national model of care says that it should have a dedicated service. The first fact is that one in six people in Ireland are living with a neurological condition and it is now the leading cause of disability worldwide. Yet, despite the growing demand, Mullingar hospital still does not have a dedicated service. The second fact is that the Neurological Alliance report specifically highlights concerns that Mullingar remains dependent on an outreach service and does not have a dedicated service as outlined in that model of care. The third fact is that demand has outstripped capacity. The Neurological Alliance briefing note says that more than 160 people are currently on a waiting list for neurology services in Mullingar alone. The fourth fact, which we know from various other areas outside health, is that regional inequality is a national problem. People living in regions and rural areas face greater travel burdens, longer waits, and poorer access to specialist expertise than those living in centres. That is a system where access to care is being determined by geography rather than need.
The Neurological Alliance found that consultant neurology staffing remains below recommended levels nationally. Specialist nursing numbers remain significantly below recommended levels. Major gaps exist in multi-disciplinary supports and neurorehabilitation services. These are not my figures or Opposition speaking points. These are the findings of a report from a national umbrella body representing almost 40 neurological organisations and more than 860,000 people living with neurological conditions. The evidence exists, the need is highlighted and the recommendations are outlined. When will the people of Longford-Westmeath get a dedicated neurology service in Mullingar Regional Hospital, which they were promised a decade ago?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:06+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-24