Unanimous support for funding for MS Community Worker for Sligo/Leitrim

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Members of the Regional Health Forum West have unanimously supported a motion proposed calling on the HSE to take the necessary action to allocate funding for the employment of an MS Community Worker in Sligo/Leitrim.

Proposing the motion Cllr Bree said “The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland has recently highlighted the urgent need for the appointment of a MS Community Worker in Sligo and Leitrim, which are the only counties in the state without this vital support.

“MS Ireland currently operates a network of Community Workers across all the other counties in this region,Donegal, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary, providing 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.

While the MS North West Therapy Centre based in Sligo carries out important work supporting individuals living with Multiple Sclerosis and other related neurological conditions it is recognised by all that without a local MS Community Worker people with MS in Sligo and Leitrim must rely on remote or intermittent outreach, leaving many without timely access to these services.

“It is my understanding that the level of grant aid required from the HSE to provide the Community Worker would be approximately €73,000 per year.

"Given that the HSE provides grant aid for the employment of MS Community Workers in every other county in the state I find it extraordinary that funding has not been provided by the HSE to employ a community worker in Sligo-Leitrim.

“I therefore propose the following motion: “Noting that the HSE provides funding to MS Ireland to employ full time MS Community Workers in all the counties in the region with the exception of Sligo and Leitrim, this Health Forum calls on the HSE to take the necessary action to allocate funding for the employment of an MS Community Worker in Sligo/Leitrim so as to provide support and early intervention and reduce reliance on HSE services in Sligo/Leitrim, in addition to providing better outcomes for people with MS.”

The motion was seconded by Cllr Edel MacSharry, and was unanimously adopted.