Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 May 2012
211 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the full extent of the school medical examinations currently available to children with particular reference to the early school years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24593/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe policy on school health examinations forms part of the Best Health for Children guidelines, produced in 1999 and revised in 2006. The Best Health for Children guidelines set out a clear timetable for child health checks and details what is required at each stage. Routine medical examinations for school age children are not provided as they have not been found to be an effective use of scarce resources. The hearing and vision of children is tested, usually in junior or senior infants. The service is public health nurse led. In many schools a questionnaire is given to families about a child's health, but the practice and the content of the questionnaire vary from area to area.
The HSE has recently put in place new governance structures in relation to child health screening and surveillance. It also established a National Child Health Surveillance and Screening Office (CHS) to oversee all aspects of child health. Child health surveillance is part of a more general programme of child health promotion that relates to secondary prevention by early detection.
I welcome those very positive developments. However, I am aware of disparities in the provision of child health examinations in different parts of the country, particularly in relation to developmental screening for infants between seven and nine months old. While I recognise staff and resource difficulties within the HSE, it is important that this issue is resolved. I have raised my concerns with the HSE and it has committed to establishing a process to set priorities within the overall child health programme and examine the issue of resource/staff distribution within the constraints of current economic and budgetary realities.
