Letters to the Editor: Waiting lists are failing children with disabilities

'The situation in East Cork is not an isolated issue, it is a warning'

'Equally concerning is the clear inequity in provision. Variations in staffing across regions amount to a “postcode lottery” in care. A child’s access to support should never depend on where they live. Addressing this requires national staffing benchmarks, transparent reporting of workforce gaps, and targeted investment in recruitment, retention, and training.' File picture 

The recent Irish Examiner report on severe understaffing in children’s disability network teams (CDNTs) in East Cork should concern anyone committed to equitable healthcare for children.

A staffing ratio of just 1.49 clinicians per 1,000 children — the lowest in Cork — alongside unfilled posts and growing waiting lists, points to more than a local imbalance. It reflects a systemic failure to ensure timely access to evidence-based psychological care for children and young people across Ireland.