Health Committee to hear from Speech & Language Therapists on issues around new procedure for assessment of need

The Joint Committee on Health will meet tomorrow to discuss the new standard operating procedure for Assessment of Need (AON) under the Disability Act 2005. This will be the Committee’s second meeting on the matter, the first being held on the 27th June this year.

Representatives from the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT) will appear before the Committee.

Chairperson of the Health Committee, Dr Michael Harty TD said today, “Earlier this year, the HSE announced plans for a new standard operating procedure, including a preliminary team assessment model that would be completed in 90 minutes. The Committee has some concerns over the new operating procedure - based on our engagement with stakeholders in June - and would like to ensure that any new procedure has the best interests of service users at its core. IASLT is the recognised professional association of Speech and Language Therapists in Ireland and their members will be directly involved in implementing the new operating procedure. Tomorrow, we will discuss issues such as consultation, resource concerns and how the proposed changes to clinical practice described within the SOP will impact their members and those who use their services.”

Watch the meeting live at 9am in Committee Room 3

The Select Committee on Health will then meet at 12 noon (also in Committee Room 3) to take Committee Stage of the Children’s Health Bill with Minister for Health Simon Harris.