Gabrielle McFadden
Question:338. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on the public waiting list to access audiology services. [42812/14]
View answerTuesday, 11 November 2014
Questions (338, 340)
Gabrielle McFadden
Question:340. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the average public waiting time for a child to access community audiology services in the health system. [42814/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 340 together.
As of September 2014, 6,054 children are awaiting assessment. The HSE's Integrated Audiology Programme is overseeing a number of developments that will reduce these numbers shortly. Included in these developments is the validation of all waiting lists to produce a more accurate assessment of priorities, the recruitment of nine new graduates in mid 2014 and the establishment of otitis media screening clinics run by public health nurses and area medical officers. A prioritisation system has been put in place to ensure that the more urgent cases are seen sooner.
More specific accurate data regarding waiting times should be available in January 2015.
Question No. 339 answered with Question No. 337.
Question No. 340 answered with Question No. 338.