Sinn Féin Councillor Conor D. McGuinness has expressed grave concerns that children and families waiting up to twelve months for an initial autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnostic assessments and other initial consultations will be forced to wait considerably longer before being seen, as the HSE seek to merge the waiting list for Waterford into a regional list that will include Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary and Wexford.“In response to a question from David Cullinane TD the HSE has confirmed its intention to merge all four waiting lists into one regional waiting list for the South East. The claim is that this will allow them to ensure equality of access across the region however the HSE concede that the changeover with lead to an initial increase in waiting times. There are plans to recruit an additional 15 child psychologists however there is no concrete timeline for this and its clear that the intention is to go ahead with the regional waiting list plan before the additional staff required are in position.
“Without the staff to do the work it is inevitable that waiting times will increase. There is simply not the capacity at present in terms of staff and resources for such a reassignment. We all know about the chronic recruitment and retention problems with the HSE. It could take years to fill the additional 15 posts, if they manage to fill them at all.
“It is staggering that the HSE would embark on such a path of consolidating waiting lists without having the necessary personnel put in place beforehand. Based on current waiting times it is clear that children in Waterford in need of a child psychologist appointment will be made to wait longer while the HSE removes capacity from Waterford and reallocates it elsewhere.
Cllr. Conor D. McGuinness 