Seanad debates
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Audiology Services
5:00 am
David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs for taking this Adjournment matter. I wish to speak about patients in the south-east referred by the ENT ward at Waterford Regional Hospital to the audiology department in the hospital and who are subjected to lengthy waiting lists.
In response to a parliamentary question tabled by Deputy à Caoláin, the Minister for Health said 1,412 patients in the south east were on audiology waiting lists since June 2010. Many people are on waiting lists for much longer periods than this as the figures presented by the Minister are only since June last year. The figures also show that of that 1,412, 436 children are over the age of four years and 450 children, referred since last June to see an audiologist, are under the age of four. The Minister will accept that early detection is very important for older people, in particular, but also for young people and young children. It is unacceptable that children of that age are being subjected to lengthy waiting lists.
I contacted the HSE area manager and received a reply from Richard Dooley in respect of a number of patients with whom I am dealing. I was told that in all cases, the waiting time is at least 20 months. The patients were told the waiting time was more than three years; therefdore, different information was given to me and the patients when they contacted the ward.
Currently, I am dealing with the case of a 62 year old gentleman whose hearing aid is not working and needs to be replaced or repaired. He went to the ENT ward, was referred to the audiology department and was told he would have to wait at least two years, if not three years. The problem is the hearing aid cannot be replaced. That is just one example. I am also dealing with a 76 year old gentleman, an old age pensioner, who has worked all his life. He has hearing difficulties but he too was told he would have to wait more than three years to see an audiologist.
In regard to audiology services in the south east, Waterford Regional Hospital covers the entire south-east region. I also note from a response I received from the Minister that there appears to be problems in regard to non-replacement of staff and of some audiologists who are on sick leave. This again points to the fact the public service employment embargo is a crude instrument and it is not working for many patients. People are waiting on such lengthy lists simply because people cannot be replaced. The Minister, in his response to the question tabled by Deputy à Caoláin, stated that audiology scientists will be appointed in Waterford Regional Hospital in the near future but he does not give a timeframe as to when that will happen.
I refer the Minister to the report published by the HSE of its national audiology review group. That report made a number of important recommendations into which I do not have time to go. However, I am sure the Minister and the Minister for Health, in particular, are aware of the recommendations which need to be implemented in full.
I am more concerned about the very old and the very young in our society and those who are on those lengthy waiting lists in Waterford and in the south east. It is important that report's recommendations are not only published but are implemented in full. Will the Minister relay to the Minister for Health that the replacement of staff on sick leave and of other staff is urgently needed? It is vital that happens.
Some 450 children under the age of four years in the south east are being told they must wait at least two years to see an audiologist. Once they see the audiologist, it may be decided that some of those children and older people need treatment and they must go on to long treatment waiting lists. It could be up to five years before some of these get the treatment they need.
These are serious issues of concern to patients and I ask the Minister to take on board the comments I have made and relay them to the Minister for Health.
Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, and thank the Senator for raising it. The examples he gave in regard to the very young and the elderly show a dysfunctional health system and that is the reason the Government has prioritised reform of the health system and the way we deliver our health services.
The HSE recently published the report of the national audiology review group. The report, to which the Senator referred, contains a comprehensive set of recommendations to address the inconsistencies and inadequacies in audiology services. Work is now under way to improve access and deliver high quality, consistent audiology services throughout the country.
I am glad to be able to inform the Senator that, in addition to the estimated â¬11 million Exchequer funding available for audiology services annually, this year the HSE is investing an additional â¬3.7 million to begin the implementation of the recommendations of the review group. This will provide for the first phase of a national newborn hearing screening programme, which is so essential and which has commenced in Cork, and for the appointment of a number of key posts to lead the development of audiology services nationwide.
In regard to audiology services in the south east, as the Senator said, Waterford Regional Hospital is the main unit for referrals in the region. Paediatric third tier screening is provided at Waterford Regional Hospital by an audiological scientist. As the Senator said, the service is currently experiencing some difficulties due to sick leave. However, recruitment of a locum scientist is under way through the regional disabilities office in Cork.The HSE plans to employ additional scientists for the neonatal screening service and to assist with third tier screening waiting lists.
The Minister for Health is determined to address the issues which cause unacceptable delays, such as those the Senator outlined, in patients receiving treatment in our hospitals. In this regard, the special delivery unit is a Government priority and is one of the commitments from the programme for Government to be achieved within the first 100 days. On 2 June, the Minister announced that Dr. Martin Connor, an international expert with a proven track record in health service transformation, has been appointed as adviser to the new special delivery unit.
The development of the special delivery unit is a key part of plans to radically reform the health system in Ireland with the ultimate goal of introducing a system of universal health insurance. Dr. Connor, who will report to the Minister, will concentrate on reducing trolley waits in emergency departments and on cutting waiting lists in the health services. A focused approach, targeting the major problem areas, is the best way forward. This is the way in which the Government will address unacceptable waiting times for audiology services.
David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the additional funding the Minister outlined. One of the key recommendations made in the audiology report concerned the implementation of a national newborn hearing screening programme. If such a programme is due to be rolled out, I welcome it.
A final point the Minister might convey to the Minister for Health concerns the need for the appointment of a national clinical lead for audiology services and a regional clinical lead in each of the four HSE regions. That must take place to give real effect to the recommendations made in the report which must be implemented. I welcome the additional funding made available. The Government is obliged to deal with real problems which were not of its making; therefore, I welcome the fact that inroads are being made and that there is a move to address the problems in the health service.