433 adults waiting for Speech and Language Therapy locally

TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has called on the Minister for Health to fill the 11 vacant speech and language posts in CHO7 and invest in services for adults after HSE figures revealed that there are 433 people waiting to access services in the CHO7 area.
 
Teachta Crowe said: “Recent figures from the HSE have informed me that there are currently 431 adults accessing speech and language therapy in the CHO7 area that includes Dublin South West. However, there are 433 people still awaiting assessment or access. 51 of whom have been waiting more than two years. “Speech and language therapy for adults is often needed after a stroke or traumatic injury. Swift access is vital to allow people to regain some of what they have lost and regain some independence and allow them to lead full lives.
 
“We need a major investment in this area as leaving people in need of speech and language therapy for more than two years is simply denying them the opportunity to progress forward from the ordeal of a stroke or traumatic injury. Delayed access to basic supports will mean as time goes on, that the therapy needed will have to be more intense and lengthy. “We cannot have people languishing on waiting lists for more than two years waiting to access vital services. We need a major investment in adult speech and language therapy. There are 11 senior posts to be filled in CHO7 alone and I am calling on the Minister for Health to fill these posts as a matter of urgency as the longer they are left vacant, the more the waiting lists will grow and longer it will take for patients to recover.”