Woman who makes 180km round-trip for medical treatment calls for services to open in Bantry
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A woman who travels a 180km round-trip from Glengarriff to Cork city for medical treatment has called for a full neurological service to open at Bantry Hospital.
Ruth O’Brien has multiple sclerosis (MS). She is one of many patients in West Cork facing long journeys to Cork University Hospital (CUH) despite living near a hospital.
“I actually work in Bantry, the hospital is only five minutes from my workplace so it would make such a big difference,” she said.
“From where I live, it’s about an hour and quarter to drive to CUH. So for any appointments I end up having to take a day off work because it takes so long.”
When first diagnosed in 2015, this was a monthly trip for Tysabri infusions, a modifying therapy for relapsing MS, with a long drive home afterward.
“Sometimes I would be very tired after treatment,” she said.
While that treatment is complete, all her neurological appointments remain at CUH.
“Nothing that I need is in Bantry,” she said.
“With my MS, one of my symptoms is fatigue and the trip to CUH has a huge impact on my wellbeing in the days and weeks following the journey.”
Bantry Hospital provides an important service for their community, she said.
“I think to have a local neurology clinic there as well would make everybody’s life so much easier,” she urged.
The Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) wants to see a permanent expanded service in Bantry. This should include a neurologist as per the HSE’s Neurology Model of Care.
Magdalen Rogers, NAI executive director, said although a consultant travels from CUH to run a monthly clinic, "it is not a full service”.
What is needed, she said is a “dedicated neurologist for Bantry Hospital” instead.
She understands the consultant running the clinics will retire this year, and said: “We are very anxious to protect a neurology service for Bantry hospital."
The NAI successfully campaigned for funding to support 21 neurology nurses nationally.
Ms Rogers said, however, that 12 remain unfilled in Cork, Galway, Waterford, Limerick, Sligo and Dublin.
“NAI is anxious that recruitment for these posts recommence as a priority as soon as the current recruitment freeze is lifted,” she said.
“There are patients and their families all across Ireland who campaigned for these nurses and want to see that commitment delivered to their local hospital".
On Tuesday, NAI hosts a free online meeting including CUH consultants titled: “Bantry Hospital: Patients Deserve Better Campaign”.