The number of children in Kerry waiting longer than a year for HSE psychology treatment has increased by almost 250% in the space of three years.
That’s according to the HSE’s own data, released to Labour’s spokesperson for health Marie Sherlock following a parliamentary question.
941 people in Kerry under the age of 18 are on a waiting list for psychology treatment from the HSE, as of the end of last year.
Over half of these children have been waiting more than a year, at 541, which itself is an increase of 242% in the space of three years.
Over 1,000 children in Kerry are awaiting ophthalmology treatment, relating to eye care, with almost 70% waiting longer than a year.
682 children are awaiting first time assessment for occupational therapy, 23% of whom are waiting longer than a year.
281 Kerry children are waiting for physiotherapy assessment, up from 75 at the end of 2022.
In speech and language therapy, the number of children in Kerry awaiting initial assessment is now 167, a further 186 are waiting for initial therapy, and 683 are awaiting further therapy.
These are all increases from the end of 2022.
407 Kerry children are waiting for dietetics treatment, with over 40% waiting longer than a year; this is also a significant increase from the end of 2022.
The HSE says it acknowledges the challenges in meeting demand for children’s disability services, and is acutely conscious of how this impacts on children and their families.
