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Kids in three year wait for speech therapy

Thursday, 22 May 2008

Children on the Southside in need of speech and language therapy are waiting over two and a half years in some cases to have their special needs assessed, a TD revealed last week.
Deputy Brian Hayes (FG) tabled a number of parliamentary questions to the HSE that also revealed how 4,136 children in the Dublin area are on the waiting list for services.
The information obtained shows that there is an average wait for speech and language therapy in Dublin of about 18 months.
Deputy Hayes said: “That even one child has to wait such an outrageous time for these vital services is a disgrace but that this Fianna Fáil Government has left over 4,000 children languishing for an average of a year and a half to access speech and language is indefensible.”
Figures for last year show there is a massive disparity in average waiting times between different areas across the city. Deputy Hayes pointed out that the statistics show a child’s access to speech and language services is completely dependent on their address.
Average waiting times for speech and language services at HSE local health offices in Dublin last year included - Dublin west (32 months); Dublin south (31 months); Dublin south city (28.5 months); Dublin southwest (18 months); Dublin north (14.6 months); Dublin northwest (10.5 months); Dublin southeast (nine months); and Dublin north central (three months).
“Almost everywhere the waiting times are completely unacceptable, especially for those in Dublin West and Dublin South who have to wait over two and a half years on average,” Deputy Hayes added.
The Fine Gael education spokesman said the situation was getting worse year by year with average waiting times in Dublin having doubled since 2004 with certain areas suffering more than others.
“Children in Dublin south and in Dublin north west are now waiting an average of three times longer for services than they were three years previously,” he revealed.
“The Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government 2007 that they would ensure that any child under five waiting more than three months for occupational or speech and language therapy could access these services automatically through the National Treatment Purchase Fund. It is crystal clear that this is not happening.”
The number of children waiting for therapy at HSE local health offices last year included - Dublin north, 860; Dublin northwest, 845; Dublin south, 598; Dublin west, 566; Dublin south west, 530; Dublin south city, 406; Dublin north central, 207; Dublin southeast, 124 – a total figure of 4,136.
In a statement the HSE said the waiting period for intervention for children requiring speech and language therapy was dependent on the nature and severity of the disorder following assessment.
“Each child who is referred to the HSE or voluntary agency for a speech and language service has an initial assessment,” the spokesperson explained. “This assessment will identify the child’s need for therapy.
“The therapist in conjunction with the parent or parents will determine the severity of the child’s difficulties and prioritise for therapy accordingly. The level of intervention will be influenced by the child’s age and severity of diagnosis.”

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