Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

14. To ask the Minister for Health if he has taken action to address the long delays in accessing equipment for children with disabilities. [25904/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of aids and appliances to eligible people following assessment by a relevant health professional.

Vacancies in Children's Disability Network Teams can cause delays in these assessments being carried out.

The aids and appliances are provided by the HSE through community services known as Community Funded Schemes.

They are prescribed on the basis of an identified clinical need and provided in line with established criteria.

Community Healthcare Organisations undertake a range of initiatives to ensure optimum use of resources, including recycling of appropriate items.

Waiting times for items approved for funding vary depending on the priority rating and priority is given to individuals with the greatest level of clinical need.

The waiting time from approval for stock items is generally no more than two weeks.

For bespoke items, which need to be designed, manufactured and delivered by the supplier, the waiting time is longer.

The HSE established a National Service Improvement Programme to develop national prescribing guidelines with the aim of improving the value for money and equity of access of the Community Funded Schemes.

In respect of aids and appliances, the category lists are completed, the contracts are in place, and category specific information for prescribers is now published on the HSE website.

The work to improve services is ongoing.