New clinics for intellectually disabled babies

TÁNAISTE and Health Minister Mary Harney will today launch a major initiative in the mid-west to improve services for babies and young children with intellectual disability.

Under the new system, one-stop-shop type clinics operate in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary.

Newborn babies and children up to the age of six are assessed for the whole spectrum of conditions as part of an integrated early intervention strategy without having to travel long distances.

Up to now, parents have been forced to arrange multiple appointments at various clinics in different locations with professionals in different specialities.

The new service has been developed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) Mid Western Area, Enable Ireland, the Brothers of Charity and Daughters of Charity in the mid-west.

Margaret Galvin, project manager of the Regional Child Development Services in the mid-west, said: “In the past parents who were concerned about a child’s development have been left to run round a variety of services, both State and voluntary, in a number of different locations.

“Following national and international research and consultation with parents and professionals, we decided on a one-stop-shop approach to provide a seamless service for children from birth to six years.”

Under the new service, a child is seen by all the professionals, at the same time, in the same room, at their local Child Development Centre.

The radical new model will mean that professionals in this area will work alongside each other, crossing professional boundaries to share their skills with one another and with the families of the children.

A combination of six Early Intervention teams are providing the new service.

The teams include clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, early intervention specialists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists.

They assess and treat children at centres in Clare, Limerick city, Limerick county and North Tipperary.

A spokesperson for the Brothers of Charity said: “The new approach to helping families is having a hugely positive effect. The single point of entry to services for families now ensures that assessment, intervention and support is offered on an integrated, coordinated and timely manner.”

Hazel Hartigan, from Pallaskenry, Co Limerick, whose daughter Chloe, three, has cerebral palsy, said they used to have to do a 60-mile round trip for help.

“Now everything we need is in my local centre and all I have to do is ring one number. They know who I am and I feel like I’ve been heard,” she said.