Influencing change
At Acquired Brain Injury Ireland we proactively seek to raise a voice for brain injury and increase understanding around the benefits of neuro-rehabilitation.
We do this by:
- meeting with policy makers at both national and local level
- making submissions and providing policy briefings to government and other relevant bodies to represent the voice of brain injury survivors and their families
- collaborating with other stakeholders to respond to the rehabilitation needs of brain injury survivors
The policy context
There is no shortage of policy papers and programmes to support our argument around the need to expand our community neuro-rehabilitation services but what is lacking is the political will to make it happen. It is nine years since the launch of the National Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy (2011) and a year into the subsequent implementation plan (2019) with little/no action to benefit people living with brain injury. We continue to raise the voice of brain injury as we advocate the need for development of clear pathways for brain injury survivors accessing services from hospital to home.
Leading academics in Trinity College Dublin published a policy paper in March 2020 that presented an analysis of the current lack of policy implementation in relation to rehabilitation for people with brain injury. This paper can be accessed here
Slaintecare – This marks the first time there has been political consensus on a health reform plan with cross-party support to deliver a universal health system in Ireland. It emphasises that care should be provided at the lowest level of complexity, often outside of the hospital and in an integrated way.
National Strategy & Policy for the Provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland (Implementation Framework 2019-2021) – This framework recognises that neuro-rehabilitation services are under-developed across the pathway and acknowledges the need for new investment and new resources.
We know that internationally, rehabilitation services are a low priority for governments often due to limited knowledge and understanding of the benefits of rehabilitation by policymakers. (See the new research paper by Dr Sara Burke that looks at reasons for this)
Read our most recent policy submissions and policy briefings here
Pre Budget Submission 2023
Pre Budget Submission 2021
Pre Budget Submission 2020
Pre Budget Submission 2019
Pre Budget Submission 2019 Graphic
Submission to the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme
Submission to Housing Agency on Housing Strategy for People with Disabilities April 2021
Priorities for Investment 2020
Neuro-rehab Implementation Framework 2019-2021 Policy Briefing Paper, 2019
The 2019 neuro-rehabilitation implementation framework in Ireland Challenges for implementation and the implications for people with brain injuries Jan 2020
How Irish health policy is responding to the rehabilitation needs of people with acquired brain injury: Policy Briefing on Stakeholder Roundtable 2019
Submission to the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response
Policy Briefing Paper on Rehabilitation Medicine Model of Care (HSE), 2018
Submission on the Deprivation of Liberty: Safeguard Proposal Consultation (Dept. of Health), 2018
Submission to HSE on Assisted Decision Making Act April 2017
Submission to DOH Personalised Budgets October 2017
Submission to DoH Home Care Consultation Sept 2017
Submission Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare July 2016
Submission SAGE Forum on Long Term Care Feb 2016
Submission to HSE Rehab Medicine Programme on Draft Model of Care Jan 2015
The Assisted Decision Making Capacity Act 2015 Policy Briefing Paper
Submission to HIQA Draft National Stnadards for residential care settings for older people Sept 2014
Priorities for investment 2020
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Acquired Brain Injury Ireland is a business name of Peter Bradley Foundation Limited. Company No. 334659 Reg Charity No. CHY 14289