Youngsters with severely debilitating conditions are being denied treatment for up to a year due to staff shortages – The Irish Sun

Newly released figures show a 28 per cent hike in the number of kids with disorders who are waiting more than 12 months for rehab care

YOUNGSTERS with severely debilitating conditions are being denied treatment due to staff shortages, it has been claimed.

Newly released figures show a 28 per cent hike in the number of kids with disorders such as cerebral palsy who are waiting more than 12 months for rehab care.

The anxious families of no fewer than 4,641 children spent the whole of last year queuing for a first assessment with an occupational therapist.

Worryingly, 455 of these were aged under five.

The January stats represent a significant jump from last April, when 3,611 kids including 291 toddlers had been on a waiting list for over a year.

And the situation is even worse for pensioners, with those forced to endure long delays for occupational therapy soaring by 68 per cent in just six months, up from 615 to 1,038.

As of the start of 2016, there were 5,916 people with disabilities in Ireland who had gone a year or longer without any hope of an independent life 35 per cent more than this time last year.

Fianna Fails Margaret Murphy OMahony obtained the disturbing figures after raising the issue in the Dail.

The partys disability spokesperson yesterday accused her Government opposite number, Finian McGrath, and Health Minister Simon Harris of ignoring the mounting crisis.

She said: This just isnt acceptable anymore. Many of those waiting for their first assessment are living with debilitating conditions, such as cerebral palsy.

The longer they wait for an assessment, the worse their condition may become.

The only way to address these shocking waiting lists is to employ more occupation therapists. Im disappointed that Ministers Harris and McGrath have stuck their heads in the sand.

A major campaign is needed to recruit occupational therapists; be they those graduating from Irish universities, those who have emigrated in the past decade, or those working in other countries who might be attracted to Ireland.

The Government has an obligation to fix the waiting list crisis. Nothing has filled me with any hope that they know what they are doing.

In response, Minister McGrath insisted Government had a longer term project that included the revamp of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, set to begin later this year, and a new focus on community care.

He added: It is acknowledged that further investment in rehabilitation services at acute hospital, post acute and community level is required to meet the ongoing needs of clients.

EXTRA funding for childcare services should make them more affordable for hard-up parents, the Childrens Minister has said. Katherine Zappone yesterday announced a 4million Early Years Capital Funding programme to subsidise additional childcare places, building improvements and new outdoor play areas. She said: We must lift the cost barrier thats preventing too many families from accessing services. I encourage providers to use this scheme to increase the quantity and quality of childcare places. However, Labours Jan OSullivan called the funding wholly inadequate. She added: Large numbers of childcare workers simply cannot afford to remain in the sector.

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Youngsters with severely debilitating conditions are being denied treatment for up to a year due to staff shortages - The Irish Sun