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Children waiting over a year for oCCupational therapy assessment
73 children under the age of 5 in Dublin West are waiting over a year for a first assessment for Occupational Therapy Treatment, according to Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Mid-West John Curran. Speaking on the matter John Curran said: “The figures were supplied to me through a Parliamentary Question I asked the Health Minister. I was alarmed at the figure for Dublin West, which includes the areas of
Clondalkin and Lucan. Compared to the rest of the country the figures in this area jumped off the page. Out of a total of 316 young children on waiting lists for first assessment, 73 of those children are in Dublin West. Occupational Therapists diagnose and treat children with developmental delays, Down syndrome or who have been in accidents. I was informed by the HSE that the number of children waiting a first
time assessment; it is likely that the majority of those assessed will require treatment. The numbers waiting in this age category are very young children, we all know and understand that the earlier the intervention the better the outcomes, especially at such a young age. Something within the system is not working properly for the children in the Dublin West region compared to the national figures.
It is frustrating for parents to wait for such long periods and the effects on children could be long-term. There is never the same potential for a child if they are not helped at this young age. You can’t go back.” I am concerned about low-income families who suffer the most on waiting lists because they are less able to pay privately to see specialists. According to the Growing Up in Ireland survey published last month, children from lowincome families were less healthy and more likely to have behavioural problems. If a three-year-old has developmental delays, having to wait a year or two for treatment is a significant proportion of their lives. Early intervention is essential for these young children and their families. I am calling on the new Minister for Health to seriously look into the waiting lists in the HSE’s Dublin West area, too many children have their lives effectively on hold because of under-resourced and under-staffed services, concluded Deputy Curran.
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