Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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94. To ask the Minister for Health if it is policy not to adjust the start time on waiting lists for treatment by the school age team should an appeal find that the child's original needs assessment shows that the child is in need of treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6276/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The HSE is currently engaged in a reconfiguration of existing therapy resources to geographic based teams for children (0-18 years). The objective of the new model of assessment and intervention is to provide one clear referral pathway for all children (0-18s), irrespective of their disability, where they live or the school they attend. A total of 56 Children’s Network Disability Teams are currently in place with a further 82 teams expected by end of 2018.

The National Policy on Prioritisation of Referrals for Children’s Network Disability Teams (CNDTs) states that if a child’s service is transferred between CNDTs either due to a change of address or a move from an Early Intervention to a School Age team, the new team must take the date of the original referral to a CNDT as the date he/she was referred, not the date of transfer. This policy also provides clear criteria for prioritisation of referrals.

The Children’s Network Disability Services may comprise a 0 – 18 team or an Early Intervention, (0-5 years) and a School Age Team, (6 years to 18 years).

A key priority for the HSE is to improve waiting times for therapy services by implementing a revised model of care for children’s Speech and Language Therapy services and Psychology services and develop new models for Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Lymphodema services. The Primary Care and Social Care Divisions are addressing waiting lists as a joint project, with a cross divisional team working on the detailed analysis of waiting times and resource deployment across the country. Social Care Children’s Disability Services and Primary Care Services are confident that through the implementation of the National Policy on Access to Services for Children and Young People with Disability and Developmental Delay, all children will have timely access to an appropriate service

The intention is to roll out an integrated care model that will allow children, whatever the nature of their disability, to be seen as locally to their home and school as possible; at primary care level when their needs can be met there and by a network disability team if their needs are more complex.

These measures will have a positive impact on the provision of clinical services for all children requiring access to health related supports and will lead to better outcomes for children and their families.