HEALTH AUTHORITIES have insisted they are working to address staff shortages that have resulted in delays of up to three years in providing a diagnosis for children with suspected autism.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) yesterday acknowledged that some children who have been waiting for a diagnosis for long periods of time are not in receipt of service. However, it said children in parts of the country where there were fully staffed multidisciplinary teams received a diagnosis within two or three months.
The delays were criticised by Irish Autism Action, which said early diagnosis and provision of services were essential. The not-for-profit group has offered to provide assessments for children who are still on public waiting lists at its Solas centre, the State's only dedicated diagnostic and assessment centre. It says waiting times for assessments at this centre in Clontarf, Dublin, are typically within three months.
"We want to do what is in the best interests of children. We don't want to take over from the HSE," said Kevin Whelan, chief executive of the group. "But it has been proven worldwide that early, accurate diagnosis coupled with early intensive intervention increases a child's opportunity for positive development and success."
The Irish Independent reported yesterday the worst diagnostic delays were in Co Cavan/Co Monaghan, where 28 children aged between six and 18 were on a three-year waiting list in one centre.
However, the HSE yesterday said most of these children had either been assessed, were in receipt of services or had assessments from other services.
In total, it said six had previously been assessed and only required a review in line with good practice. A further five children had received an alternative diagnosis or assessment. Of the remaining 17, three had another primary diagnosis and were already in receipt of appropriate services, four had an existing diagnosis from another service and two families had refused to engage with HSE services. Eight were awaiting assessment. With the recruitment of two psychologists, the HSE said plans were in place to ensure all children on the list would be provided with a comprehensive psychological assessment.
Nationally, the HSE said most children waiting for a diagnosis had had an assessment through its early intervention teams. It said child and adolescent mental health services were being prioritised this year, including the provision of eight new multidisciplinary child and adolescent psychiatric teams.
The HSE has advertised for 12 new consultant child and adolescent psychiatrists. In addition, it said it was engaged in a recruitment process for 140 new posts - in areas including occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and physiotherapists - to develop and expand its early intervention teams.