Neurology Services in Northern Ireland Face Crisis as Campaigners Demand Reform

Neurology services in Northern Ireland are in a state of crisis, with over 20,000 patients awaiting their first appointment. Campaigners are set to convey this urgent message to the Health Minister during an event at Stormont on Monday. The situation has escalated to a point where patients and healthcare staff are experiencing significant repercussions due to a system that many describe as failing.

More than 40,000 individuals in Northern Ireland live with long-term neurological conditions. The Northern Ireland Neurological Charities Alliance (niNCA) is launching the #FightForNeuro campaign to highlight the dire circumstances surrounding neurology services. They argue that chronic underfunding, increasing waiting lists, and fragmented care have left patients feeling neglected and hopeless.

Since the Department of Health initiated its Regional Review of Neurology Services in 2018, standards have deteriorated. According to new evidence collected by niNCA from 270 patients and caregivers, the crisis is profound. A staggering 76% of respondents reported experiencing delays in accessing services. Additionally, 74% indicated that these delays negatively impacted their physical health, while 77% noted adverse effects on their mental well-being.

Many individuals also struggle to find adequate support. The survey revealed that 57% of respondents had difficulty accessing support in the past year, and 50% felt unsupported following their diagnosis. Each statistic represents a person facing declining quality of life, as delays in care continue to erode their futures.

One such individual is Tom Hunter, a resident of Islandmagee living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and a volunteer with the MS Society. He expressed his challenges: “Living with a neurological condition is hard enough without having to fight for the care and support you need. Although I’m fortunate to have a fantastic neurology consultant, he has an overwhelming workload. Too often I have felt abandoned by a system that doesn’t understand my daily struggles — and I am not alone.”

Hunter emphasized the need for clear, condition-specific pathways, better communication, and improved access to specialists. “These changes would not only give us better outcomes, but dignity and hope,” he added.

The Chair of niNCA, Sarah McCully Russell, underscored the urgency of the situation. “Our findings should serve as a wake-up call to the Health Minister, his review team, and commissioners,” she stated. “This evidence demonstrates the urgent need for investment and reform. Condition-specific pathways, improved access to specialists, and consistent communication are not optional — they are essential.”

Russell highlighted the real human impact of the current system’s failings. “Patients and the workforce cannot wait any longer for change. The message is clear: neurology services are broken and both patients and staff are being harmed by a system stretched beyond its limits. Every cancelled appointment, every year-long wait, and every unanswered phone call takes a toll on real people with real lives,” she explained. “Without immediate action, more people will suffer needlessly. Reform cannot wait.”

In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for the Department of Health acknowledged the significant pressures within neurology services. They stated that the current waiting times for first outpatient appointments are lengthy, prompting the commissioning of a regional review to address these issues.

The spokesperson mentioned that a public consultation on the final report of the regional review has recently concluded. This report proposes a comprehensive programme aimed at centering care around individuals with neurological conditions, alongside plans for workforce growth and new operational strategies.

An analysis of the consultation is currently underway, which will inform the implementation plan. The Health Minister will consider funding for the Neurology Review in light of future budget settlements and competing priorities.

As the campaigners prepare to make their voices heard at Stormont, the call for immediate funding and reform in neurology services continues to resonate. With thousands of lives hanging in the balance, the need for swift action has never been clearer.