Arthritic children waiting up to six years for help

CHILDREN with arthritis are waiting up to six years for treatment because of a lack of specialists to treat their condition.

The first paediatric rheumatologist to be appointed in Ireland begins work next year, but Professor Oliver FitzGerald, consultant rheumatologist at St Vincent’s hospital in Dublin said at least three additional appointments are “urgently required.”

“There are waiting lists of up to six years in certain parts of the country for adults requiring treatment from a rheumatologist,” Prof FitzGerald explained. “Children requiring assessment must join that waiting list.”