At least 12 key positions in Monaghan Children’s Disability services are now unfilled – Matt Carthy TD

There is a shocking understaffing of Monaghan’s Children Disability Services according to local TD, Matt Carthy, who this week revealed details of information which he has received from the HSE.

The response from the HSE to a Parliamentary Question Deputy Carthy had submitted shows that at least 12 posts are now unfilled. This is a staggering increase from the five unfilled posts which the HSE had confirmed on 31st December last.

Deputy Carthy said that there is a developing emergency within Disability Services in County Monaghan and called on the government to immediately intervene to address the issue.

Teachta Carthy said:

“This is confirmation that the crisis in Monaghan’s Children Disability services is set to become an emergency unless a drastic improvement occurs very quickly. On 31st December last the HSE informed me that 4.5 posts were vacant within Monaghan CDNT. That figure, according to the most recent information I have received is now 11.2, accounting for at least 12 specific positions.

“This means that the countless children who have been waiting for far too long for the disability services they need will now either wait even longer or actually miss out on the care they need entirely.

“Some discipline grades are not met at all. These include Clinical Nurse Manager, were neither of the 1.8 staff allocation is filled; Senior Social Worker, were neither of the 1.8 posts are currently filled; and both Staff Grade and Clinical Specialist Psychologists, both allocated a full post but neither currently filled. Within Speech & Language, a key area where there is a huge unmet demand for appointments, 2 of the 3 SLT staff grade are unfilled while 1 of the 3.4 Senior Therapist positions is vacant. Other disciplines where vacancies are open include 1.6 of the 3.6 Senior Occupational Therapists and an admin assistant.

“In all my years working with families of children and young adults with disabilities there have always been critical vacancies in these services. But these figures point to an emergency of new proportions. This will place huge pressures on those who are currently working within the services and huge stress on the affected families.

“Early intervention on disability services can be crucial. Every month of delay in accessing OT, Speech & Language or Psychological services can have a lifetime impact. That is why the growing level of unfilled posts is so concerning.

“The government needs to intervene. Children with disabilities in County Monaghan are being let down again. Ministers cannot keep fobbing these matters off to the HSE or the Children Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) without taking accountability.

“I will be challenging the Minister for Disabilities and the leaders of government parties, who have presided over disgraceful services for our most vulnerable citizens, at every opportunity.”