Cork TD criticises 'shameful' waiting lists for paediatric occupational therapy appointments

A Cork TD has said that it is “shameful” that almost 1,000 children in Cork have been waiting more than 12 months for an occupational therapy appointment.

Cork currently has 3,710 children waiting for an occupational therapy primary care appointment, 991 of whom have been waiting for more than 52 weeks.

The greatest concentration of children awaiting appointments is in the HSE’s two Cork city areas, with 1,257 in North Lee and 1,392 in South Lee.

There are 700 children waiting for occupational therapy appointments in North Cork and 361 in West Cork.

South Lee has the largest number of children, at 367, waiting for an appointment for more than a year, with 293 in North Cork, 236 in North Lee, and 95 in West Cork.

Mari O’Donovan, the HSE’s interim head of service for primary care in Cork and Kerry, described the situation as “less than desirable”.

Ms O’Donovan said the figures were a consequence of “a number of factors including a growth in demand for services and also the implications of resource deficit due to the recent [HSE] recruitment embargo”.

She said efforts to reduce waiting times and improve resources were her team’s top priority.

The remarks are contained in a reply to a parliamentary question by Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central.

Mr Gould called for a plan to be put in place for occupational therapy in Cork, and accused the Government of failing children with additional needs.

“It is not just in one area —many of these children have no school place, no access to therapies, no therapies in schools, and insecure housing.

“They are being failed in every way,” he said.

“Parents of children with additional needs are forced to become school transport, therapists, nutritionists, and campaigners because of government failings.”

He added that some 991 Cork children were waiting longer than 12 months for an initial appointment. 

“This isn’t even for intervention, it’s just to be seen in the first place,” Mr Gould said.

“What could be a small issue, with something minor like holding a pencil, grows bigger and bigger as a child waits on this list.

“These waiting lists, across the board, are stunting children’s development and preventing them from reaching their full potential. It is shameful,” he said.