Of those, the HSE said just 185 were overdue for completion because of exceptional circumstances. The screening assessment is to provide information on the health needs of children, but the system has been beset by delays in recent years. It is intended that the changes in the SOP, particularly the new preliminary assessment, will facilitate children with disabilities to access assessment in a timelier fashion." There were 16,378 children on the waiting list for further speech and language therapy, of which more than 4,000 were waiting more than a year. For physiotherapy, 46,440 people were awaiting an assessment at the end of September, including more than 3,000 children who have been waiting for more than two years.

Source: Irish Examiner November 22, 2020 14:32 UTC