Sligo and Leitrim ‘only counties in Ireland’ without a vital MS community worker

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

The urgent need for a full-time MS community worker for Sligo and Leitrim has been stressed at a meeting of Sligo County Council.

Motions submitted by Cllr Declan Bree and Cllr Marie Casserly before the monthly meeting called on the HSE to provide the necessary resources to MS Ireland, to provide a full-time community worker for Sligo and Leitrim.

Cllr Bree said, “The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland has contacted Councillors and members of the Oireachtas to highlight the urgent need for a the appointment of a MS Community Worker in Sligo and Leitrim, which we are told are the only counties in Ireland without this vital support.

“MS Ireland currently operates a network of community workers across 24 other counties, offering services such as: One-to-one casework support from diagnosis onwards, Help navigating health and social care systems, Access to physiotherapy, fatigue management, and respite services and Advocacy for entitlements and supports.”

Cllr Bree outlined the consequences of no MS community worker being available locally saying, “According to the organisation, without a local MS Community Worker people with MS in Sligo and Leitrim are obliged to rely on remote or intermittent outreach, leaving many without timely access to these services.

Given that every other area in the state have MS Community Workers I find it extraordinary that resources have not been provided to employ a community worker in Sligo and Leitrim.

In this context I believe this council should make its voice heard in calling for the provision of a full-time MS Community Workers for Sligo and Leitrim.” Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.