Nolan claims transfer of OT/speech therapists to Covid testing causing delays

Photo: Independent TD, Carol Nolan.

Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan has called on the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to clarify when Occupational and Speech and Language therapists will be allowed to return to full-time employment in their substantive roles.

Deputy Nolan was speaking after the government confirmed that the existing number of therapists continue to be temporarily transferred to Covid-19 swabbing and contact tracing centres; which in turn is creating significant further delays to children trying to access S&L and Occupational Therapy services:

“We know from the latest information available that at least 1,118 children in Laois Offaly have been waiting in excess of 12 months for occupational therapy while 159 of these children have been waiting in excess of 12 months for speech therapy.

"Yet despite this level of denial of service, the government is still insisting that Occupational and Speech and Language therapists are effectively taken out of the system full time in order to assist the swabbing and tracing element of tackling Covid-19.

"As I understand it, the HSE says it is currently engaged in a recruitment campaign for staff to support community testing facilities for Covid-19. But the difficulty there is that no timetable or clear pathway has been put in place as to when those recruits will be capable of relieving the Occupational and Speech and Language therapists from their swabbing and contact tracing roles.

"There were significant delays right across the Occupational and Speech and Language therapy services before Covid. However, the failure to put in place recruitment measures prior to now has resulted in the absence of highly qualified and urgently needed personnel. As a result of this children are almost certainly going to experience severe and unnecessary educational delays," she concluded.