HSE criticised over plan to tackle backlog in assessment of need cases

As of the end of March, the backlog in AON cases was down to 1,919 cases, but some HSE areas are taking special measures to reduce it further.

The HSE has been criticised over plans to divert primary care psychologists to tackle the backlog in assessment of need (AON) cases, with new figures showing the number of overdue cases now below 2,000.

An extra €7.8m was secured through Sláintecare last August to cut the backlog in AON cases — the screening process to ensure children get access to appropriate healthcare treatment — which at the end of last September stood at over 6,000.