Kildare Advocate Calls Attention to Neurorehabilitation Bed Shortfall

On July 22, 2025, Aideen Phelan, a resident of Naas, County Kildare, emphasized the critical shortage of neurorehabilitation beds in Ireland during a World Brain Day event at Peamount Healthcare in Dublin. Phelan, who herself suffered a brain aneurysm at the age of 32, joined forces with the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) to urge government officials and healthcare leaders to address the alarming 58% deficit in available neurorehabilitation beds for patients requiring recovery from neurological conditions such as stroke, acquired brain injuries, and progressive diseases like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.

Gathering over 40 neurological charities at the event, Phelan and the NAI implored the government to fulfill its commitments outlined in the Programme for Government, which includes plans to expand specialist inpatient neurorehabilitation facilities in the forthcoming budget. According to Magdalen Rogers, CEO of the NAI, Ireland currently has less than half the necessary neurorehabilitation beds, with over 175 beds still required despite a commitment to develop 306 beds as per a national framework published in 2019.

"Over 16% of the population in Ireland is living with a neurological condition, and many individuals and their families are facing an overwhelming struggle to access the necessary care," said Rogers, highlighting a recent survey of 700 individuals living with neurological conditions, which revealed that a staggering 76% had been unable to access inpatient neurorehabilitation when needed.

Phelan shared her personal journey of recovery, having undergone six life-saving surgeries before being admitted to Peamount for rehabilitation. "When I first met the team at Peamount, I could barely string a sentence together. Today, I cannot say enough about the vital care and support they provided that allowed me to regain my independence and my life," she stated. Her story serves as an example of the effective rehabilitation that many patients are currently missing out on due to the lack of available beds.

Tanya King, CEO of Peamount Healthcare, noted that since the opening of 10 new neurorehabilitation beds at the facility in late 2020, over 400 patients have successfully received the specialist rehabilitation they urgently require. However, the NAI is advocating for an investment in 45 additional beds in the upcoming budget to begin addressing the shortfall.

The NAI's recent report, "The Right Care in the Right Place," highlighted that a quarter of surveyed individuals had never accessed neurorehabilitation services, with alarming percentages reporting difficulties in accessing care over the past year: 78% in the North West, 73% in the South East, 62% in Dublin, and 58% in the Midlands.

In addition to the urgent need for more inpatient beds, the NAI is also calling for investment in four community neurorehabilitation teams across various regions, including North West, North Dublin/North East, South East, and Midlands. This initiative seeks to enhance access to rehabilitation services for the over 860,000 individuals in Ireland living with neurological conditions.

The demand for neurorehabilitation services is not merely a bureaucratic concern but a pressing issue that affects the lives of countless individuals and their families across Ireland. With a growing population and an increasing prevalence of neurological conditions, immediate action is necessary to ensure that every individual has access to the rehabilitation services they need.

For more information on the NAI and its initiatives, visit [www.nai.ie](http://www.nai.ie).