80% of child disability assessments delayed

FOUR out of every five disability assessments for children who may be suffering from serious, life-long conditions are not taking place within the legally outlined timeline.

Figures revealed in the HSE’s June performance report, the latest available, show that despite 850children under the age of five being assessed in the first half of this year, the vast majority of those in need are not receiving treatment as soon as recommended.

According to section two of the Disability Act, 1997, any child who is believed to have a disability must be assessed by health service officials within three months of application.

In addition, this assessment must also be completed within three months of its commencement date.

However, while the legislation outlines the treatment timeline which is involved, trade newspaper Irish Medical News has reported that four out of five of children are now being told to wait past the allotted three-month period.

The HSE performance report explained that this “disappointingly low” figure is due to the recruitment ban, the non-filling of vacancies caused by maternity and sick leave for workers, and the “prioritisation of intervention over assessment”.