TD for Dublin Mid-West, Mark Ward, has called out the lack of priority given to parents of newborns. Deputy Ward was speaking after receiving a response from the HSE the Public Health Nurse service in Dublin West has moved to a P1 service. This means that services at P2 to P3 will not be provided. leading to the suspending of developmental checks for newborns.
Teachta Ward said “I have had dozens of parents contact me about their children not getting the vital developmental checks from public health nurses. “When a baby is born, developmental checks are carried out at regular intervals from immediately after birth throughout infancy. “During the baby’s first week, a public health nurse visits the home and typically checks the baby’s weight and overall health. “The public health nurse then carries out a developmental assessment when the baby is three months old.
“Babies in Dublin Mid West are not getting this assessment due to a shortage of public health nurses, prompting concerns there could be a delay in diagnosing certain conditions. “These developmental checks are crucial to identifying if additional supports are needed for your child. “I raised this with the HSE last year and they informed me that due Public Health Nurse service in Dublin West has moved to a P1 service. This means that services at P2 to P3 will not be provided. leading to the suspension of developmental checks for newborns.
“A recent response I received on the topic stated: Procedure means that the service is prioritising essential services, and in some services will not be provided, and this includes developmental checks.
“This is simply not good enough. The brain develops the most in the first 5 years of a child’s life, it is so important that these checks can be carried out. “I joined parents who made a complaint to the Ombudsman for Children last year. “I have had reports that in certain areas of Dublin, children have been getting their checks, this is welcome, but we cannot have areas where they are getting no follow up checks. “More needs to be done to ensure that public health nurses are recruited and retained to carry out the necessary developmental checks and there isn’t a postcode lottery of services. “I will be raising this again with the new Ministers for Children and Health when the Dáil returns.”
