Latest news with #CDNT
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Over 12,000 children waiting for first contact from disability teams
Over 12,000 children are waiting for their first contact with Child Disability Network Team (CDNT). Figures from the HSE, seen by Breakingnews, show that at the end of April, 12,106 children were waiting for their first contact from a CDNT. Advertisement Of that figure, 8298 children are waiting over a year for first contact. Of the six Regional Healthcare Areas (RHAs), HSE Dublin and North East have the longest waiting list, with 3841 children waiting for first contact, with 2980 waiting over 12 months for contact from a CDNT. 1506 children are waiting between seven to 12 months to hear from a CDNT. In Dublin Midlands, there is 3035 children waiting for first contact, with 2116 children waiting over a year. Advertisement The HSE Dublin and South East region has 2707 children waiting for first contact, with 2112 waiting over 12 months for first contact. This area covers South-East Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and most areas of Wicklow. In the HSE Midwest, which provides care to Clare, Limerick, and North Tipperary, 1070 children is waiting for first contact, with 530 waiting over a year. The HSE West and North West, which covers Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, West Cavan, Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, has 819 children on the waiting list, with 290 waiting over a year. Advertisement In the HSE South West, covering Cork and Kerry, 634 children is waiting for first contact, with 270 waiting over a year. There are 93 CDNTs, aligned to 96 Community Healthcare Networks across the country, providing services and supports for children aged from birth to 18 years of age. The CDNTs are currently providing services and supports for 43,000 children and strategies and supports for urgent cases on the waitlist where staffing resources allow. The HSE have said CDNTs face significant challenges, including staffing vacancies, growth in the numbers of children with complex needs as a result of their disability, and growth in demand for Assessment of Need, diverting further resources away from interventions. 1,233 children and/or their parents who are on the CDNT waiting list participated in one or more individual and/or group intervention appointments during April 2025.
Irish Examiner
06-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Government must provide a 'clear timeline' for disability service reform
A 'clear timeline' is needed from the Government on how reforms to services for children with disabilities will be carried out, Senator Laura Harmon has said. The programme for government commits to 'delivering a step change in disability services' and also to 'helping children get the therapies they need'. However HSE data, released to the Labour party last week showed children's disability network teams (CDNTs) are overworked and struggling to get through waiting lists. Ms Harmon, Labour's disability spokeswoman, expressed serious concerns at 'the alarming situation' facing families in the south west. 'Cork and Kerry have the highest regional waiting list and that is for psychology where there was 6,216 on the (national) waiting list at end of 2024 — a total of 5,275 of these were in Cork,' she said. The data shows 'thousands of children' are being 'let down by the State' she said, referring to disability services and primary care services. We need a clear timeline from the minister that sets out measures that will be made available in Cork and nationally to support children with additional needs. 'And there must be a roll-out of much needed in-school therapists, as well ensuring that every child will have a school place in September.' She called for 'urgent action' on the lack of access to these therapies, indicating both Norma Foley, minister for children and disability as well as Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, health minister should be involved. She also raised concerns about occupational therapy waiting lists. Therapists help children with writing skills or sensory processing for example. 'In Cork, there were 3,736 waiting on first time occupational therapy assessments at the end of 2024,' she warned. In addition, she pointed out the data shows 1,410 children waiting on an initial assessment for speech and language therapy in this county alone. 'A further 1,670 were awaiting initial speech and language therapy at the end of 2024 in Cork - the highest regional figure on this waiting list outside Dublin,' she said. Children are also struggling to access audiology sessions where study of hearing, balance, and related disorders takes place. Ms Harmon said: It is very concerning that 2,235 children were waiting on appointments for audiology at the end of 2024 in Cork. HSE Southwest has said they face recruitment challenges for the CDNT The north east Cork CDNT should have the equivalent of 17.2 staff but has 12.6 instead. Other Cork teams face varying challenges, so while some roles are staffed to the approved level, many are not. The situation is similar in Kerry although more roles appear staffed to the approved levels according to HSE data shared with the Irish Examiner last month. Read More SNAs may get better job security under NCSE scheme
