Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
579. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase resources to the Health Service Executive in north Dublin city and county assessment of needs section to resolve the long waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12486/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that early intervention services and services for school-aged children with disabilities need to be improved and organised more effectively and this process is well under way. One of the key priorities for the HSE is to improve waiting times for therapy services by implementing a revised model of care for children’s Speech and Language Therapy services and Psychology services and develop new models for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy services. The HSE has established a Service Improvement Initiative to include Occupational Therapy services, with a particular focus on waiting times for access.
The HSE is currently engaged in a reconfiguration of existing therapy resources to geographic based teams for children (0-18 years). The objective of the new model of assessment and intervention is to provide one clear referral pathway for all children (0-18s), irrespective of their disability, where they live or the school they attend.
Evidence to date from areas where this has been rolled out shows that implementation of this programme will have a positive impact on waiting lists both for assessments and therapies. Some HSE Areas have already reconfigured into interdisciplinary Children’s Disability Network Teams (a total of 56 networks of the 129 network teams required are in place) whilst others are developing their reconfiguration and implementation plan.
The HSE has also recognises that a lack of standardisation and clarity has contributed to significant delays in the Assessment of Need process. In addition, the Assessment of Need has resulted in resources being targeted almost exclusively towards assessment with some children receiving very limited intervention.
A revised Standard Operating Procedure for Assessment of Need has been developed to ensure that there is a standardised approach to assessment across all areas. This procedure will be implemented from 1 April 2018. The procedure addresses the issue of eligibility for Assessment of Need and aligns this with the National Policy on Access to Services for Children & Young People with Disability & Developmental Delay.
The implementation of the Standard Operating Procedure for Assessment of Need is intended to support children with disabilities to access timely assessment and appropriate intervention.
At a national level, €8 million in additional funding was invested in 2014 and 2015 to fund 200 additional posts to support the implementation of the Progressing Disabilities programme.
A further €4 million in additional funding was provided for 75 therapy posts in 2016.
Budget 2018 funding will facilitate the recruitment of additional occupational therapy posts to address waiting lists and enable patients to have earlier access to assessment and treatment.
It is expected that this re-configuration of services along with other measures outlined will have a significant impact on the HSE’s ability to meet the needs of children and young people in a more efficient, effective and equitable manner. In particular, it will facilitate their ability to comply with the statutory time-frames set out in the Disability Act and the accompanying regulations.
