Reilly urged to fund ear implants programme

Families of profoundly deaf children who are failing to receive “best practice” care are to write to James Reilly, the health minister, urging him to fund the treatments.

Irish Deaf Kids members have suggested the idea on the group’s Facebook page after the budget problems behind the chronic service delays were revealed by the Irish Examiner.

Figures from Beaumont Hospital show 350 children have been told they must wait up to six years for second cochlear ear implants to address their profound deafness. Even then, there is no guarantee they will receive the vital aid as the hospital is only funded to provide implants for one ear.