DFI hosts HSE in briefing on National Neuro Rehab Strategy rollout

DFI hosted a member's  briefing where the HSE provided a progress report on the implementation of the National Neuro Rehabilitation Strategy.

The session, designed to keep members directly informed on policy shifts, was led by Ciara Lynch, Programme Manager for the National Neuro Rehabilitation Strategy. She provided attendees with a background to the framework and a critical update on how the new model is finally being rolled out across the country.

Addressing the gap in services

Ms. Lynch acknowledged that neuro-rehab services in Ireland have historically been inconsistent and underdeveloped. This has often resulted in long waiting times and delayed discharges from acute hospitals, issues that many DFI member organisations witness daily in their work.

With improvements in stroke care and trauma networks leading to higher survival rates, the gap between demand and capacity has widened. The current implementation framework aims to address this by ensuring safe, person-centered care is delivered at the lowest appropriate level of complexity, as close to home as possible.

The new model: Managed Clinical Rehabilitation Networks

The core of the strategy presented to the group is the move toward Managed Clinical Rehabilitation Networks, MCRNs. This model, which has proven successful in other European countries, divides the country into six regional networks.

The goal of the MCRN is to improve patient flow, reduce the time spent in acute hospitals, and ensure equitable access to care regardless of location.

A three-tiered approach

Ms. Lynch explained that the new model creates a seamless pathway involving three distinct levels of care, a structure that will impact how many member organisations interact with the HSE:

• National level: Access to complex tertiary specialist rehabilitation at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, NRH.
• Regional level: Specialist neuro-rehabilitation inpatient units within each network.
• Community level: Dedicated Community Neuro Rehabilitation Teams.

Governance and lived experience

To drive this development, Local Implementation Groups are being established in each region. The HSE emphasized to DFI members that these groups include representation from voluntary organizations and, crucially, individuals with lived experience, ensuring the patient voice remains central to the strategy's rollout.

Join DFI

Briefings like this are part of DFI’s commitment to keeping our members at the forefront of policy changes and service developments. If your organisation is not yet a member and would like to be part of these vital conversations, you can find more information here: Become a DFI Member Organisation