Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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1565. To ask the Minister for Health the reason delays in the provision of new wheelchairs and existing wheelchair repairs have escalated to such point that severely mobility impaired children are forced to wait several months, in some cases over a year, without any alternative care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38546/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Approval for the provision of aids and appliances including wheelchairs is based on detailed information received and accessed in line with prioritisation guidelines to ensure that people with the most urgent assessed needs have their needs met first, within a set monthly budget. In relation to mobility equipment, occupational therapists carry out assessments and review applications in light of the individual's current and ongoing needs, with the priority being to provide functional mobility for indoor and short distance outdoor use.

All professionals providing community based services, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and public health nurses, will be aware of the prioritisation criteria and will provide any necessary and urgent items of equipment following appropriate assessment as soon as possible. However, the health service as a whole has to operate within the parameters of funding available to it and given the current economic environment, this has become a major challenge for all stakeholders, including the HSE, voluntary service providers, services users and their families.

Additional factors that may impact on the waiting time for the provision of wheelchairs include: -

Assessment - In order to provide a safe, high quality, value for money and client centred service a comprehensive assessment of need takes place and this may involve a number of professionals. The assessment process may include a physical assessment (such as assessing visual perception, cognitive factors, risk awareness etc), trialling a number of different wheelchairs and involve a number of wheelchair suppliers prior to ordering wheelchair and issuing to client. This process can take a number of weeks depending on, for example, the complexity of the client's physical and sensory needs, the needs of the carer and the environment in which the wheelchair will be used.

Customisation - Some clients who have very specific needs are much more difficult to accommodate and their chairs may need to be customized for them. The waiting time for customised wheelchairs alone can be 8 - 12 weeks as these wheelchairs are manufactured overseas.

Assistive Technology - In the case of some children who require Assistive Technology in order to operate the wheelchair, they must be referred to the Assistive Technology clinic in the Central Remedial Clinic in Dublin. As this is a national service there can be a period of waiting for assessment and fitting of controls.

In relation to wheelchair repairs, the HSE endeavours to see clients as quickly as possible, however, waiting time for completion may vary according to the kind of repair needed and the availability of parts.