Nationwide roll-out of clinics for special needs children urged
Manager of The Clare Crusaders Clinic, Ann Norton, confirmed it would shortly lodge a submission with the Department of Health formalising its call.
Its clinic in Barefield, outside Ennis, was established in 2007 by parents of special needs children and has grown rapidly to provide therapies to 170 children with a range of special needs, including cerebral palsy, autism and Down Syndrome. The charity was established in 2005 by Clare parents frustrated by the shortcomings in the health system. The clinic employs five full-time and two part-time therapists.
Requiring a budget in excess of €250,000 yearly, Ms Norton said the clinic raised €280,000 in fundraising last year.
Ms Norton, whose daughter Nicole has cerebral palsy and is treated at the clinic, said: “We have a very good model here. It is very cost-effective. There is no waste in what we do. The money we have goes directly to the children through therapy.
“To be providing therapies to children now, we have given hope to parents. The difference the clinic has made to the children is fantastic.”
It allows families with children with special needs to come together, she said.
“There are an awful lot of families out there who feel very alone with special needs children and don’t get to see other parents and children, but at the clinic they all mix and know that they are not the only ones in this situation.
“If the Government is looking for cost-effective ways of looking after its healthcare system, we have it here in Co Clare at the clinic. We are very lucky to have it and the Government would be very foolish if they didn’t look to it because what we have here is very, very good.”
She said: “There is no reason why this shouldn’t be done through the public sector.
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