‘Everything is just left to parents and it leaves everyone so stressed’

Chronic staff shortages across all grades and all teams of Meath's four Children's Disability Network Teams (CDNT) have been described as devastating and cruel.

Children are suffering as 36 per cent of staff posts are vacant and 1,176 children in Co Meath are waiting for an initial contact, according to parents.

Dunboyne parent, Siobhan Campbell said "Everything is just left to parents and everyone is so stressed.

"We carried out a survey last year and all 45 parents who responded were unable to access services they need," she said

Figures released to Deputy Darren O'Rourke by the HSE confirm that just 58.54 whole time equivalent (WTE) positions are filled in Meath out of an approved 92.18. The response further indicates that 1,176 children in the county are waiting for an initial contact.

Ms Campbell explained that her son Ewan has autism and moderate learning difficulties and needs to see a paediatric psychiatrist.

"He is on a controlled drug that needs monitoring, but there is no monitoring. I Have to rely on my GP to prescribe the drug."

She recalls that she attended a Progressing Disability planning meeting about Ewan and the big thing the professionals agreed was he needed the services of paediatric psychiatrist.

"There isn't one for our area. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services won't take on children with learning difficulties. Private services are no longer able to take people either."

Out of sheer frustration, Siobhan and other parents held a meeting last year to highlight the lack of services. More than 60 parents and carers of children with disabilities attended the meeting in Mulvany’s, Dunboyne. They aso met with Minister Anne Rabbittee but nothing has changed.

"They say they are trying to recruit, but they are doing nothing to improve conditions for staff."

Ewan attends the Stepping Stones School in Maynooth, a special school for children with autism and complex needs. "We have to fund-raise to provide Occupational Therapy, Music Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy in the school," she says.

"The only service we get is respite, provided by Rehab Care, which is a complete life saver, but once Ewan turns 18, we will face a black hole again. I know a family who have had no respite in the two years their child turned 18."

Deputy O'Rourke stressed the urgent need urgent need for "the Minister for Health and the HSE to develop a strategic workforce plan to train, recruit and retain therapists for these posts. This needs to happen as a matter of urgency. It is essential for children in need."

"The figures released to me by the HSE paint a very stark picture. Just 58.54 positions are filled out of an approved 92.18. This means 33.54 essential staff posts (or 36%) are vacant. We know that this is across all teams and across all grades and disciplines. It is devastating. It is no reflection on those who work within the system, but it is clear that children are being failed. They are being let down. At best they are being delayed the opportunity to reach their full potential, at worst they are being denied that opportunity. They are being damaged by our broken system. It is cruel.

"Unfortunately, these figures will come as no surprise to parents/guardians or children trying to access services. Across our county there is a shortage of therapists - SLT, OT, psychology, physio - and capacity.

"The response from the HSE acknowledges the significant recruitment challenges and outlines efforts to address them, but it is clear that not enough is being done. Where is the aggressive strategic plan?

"The response from the HSE comes shortly after the publication of the CDNT census for 2022. This showed that there was a 34per cent vacancy rate in 2022, up from 28percent in 2021. Meath is currently at 36 per cent vacancy, worse than the state average

"It is simply not acceptable that over a third of posts within CDNTs are vacant while parents and guardians are desperately seeking access to an assessment of need or therapeutic supports for their children."

A spokesperson for the HSE said Midlands Louth Meath, similar to other parts of the health service, are experiencing significant recruitment challenges.

"These challenges are not unique to this areaand are affecting many teams across the country and across many clinical disciplines, which is having an impact on service delivery.

"The HSE is also currently actively engaged in various recruitment initiatives to fill vacant posts which will positively impact on waiting times for all disciplines. The CDNTs continue to strive to deliver as timely a service as possible but this is extremely challenging due to vacancy levels. Recruitment remains a priority and all efforts at a local and national level are being explored.

"Multiple competitions have and continue to take place in efforts to fill all vacancies. The national pool is limited and although every effort is being made to maximise this pool through links with colleges and universities, there remains a significant deficit nationally in many of the clinical professions.

"To supplement the national pool, the HSE is continuing to source candidates through the international market. The HSE is supported in this recruitment initiative by international recruitment partners who will engage and recruit with interested applicants on behalf of the service and to HSE standards."