878 Cork kids wait for overdue disability assessments
New figures from the HSE have revealed that nearly 900 children in Cork who potentially have disabilities and whose needs need to be determined have been left waiting for that assessment this year.
878 children in Cork have applications for assessments of need which are overdue. Assessments identify a child's health needs and also identify what services are required to meet a child's needs.
This year has seen a large increase in overdue assessments of need. The figures, secured by Fianna Fáil by the HSE, show an increase from 3,568 to 3,768 in total at the end of June this year.
Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Disability, Murphy O’Mahony said: “In the middle of this year, 3,611 children with disabilities were being kept waiting for their statutory right to an assessment under the Disability Act.”
The 2005 Disability Act provides for an assessment for the needs of applicants with a disability. Assessments of need must commence within three months of receipt of a completed application and must be completed within a further three months.
National Service Plans set targets of 100 per cent compliance within these statutory timelines, however the HSE has been unable to achieve these targets. In 2017 through 2018, the figures for disabled children waiting for assessment were in decline. However the figures for the first half of 2019 show a substantial increase, resulting in applicants being forced to wait longer than the statutory waiting period for their assessment.
“While the figures had been falling during 2018, they have moved up again now and the fact remains that things are very bad,” continued Deputy O’Mahony. “To have so many children in a position where they cannot access their legal entitlement within the statutory timeframe is just wrong and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
“Again Budget 2020 has made a big deal of promising extra therapists but most of them won’t be in place until 2021. This is just one of many areas in disability services where children are enduring long waits. 7,899 under 18s were waiting over a year for occupational therapy assessment at the end of August.