Local autistic children left high and dry by HSE services

By Maurice Garvey

A YOUNG Clondalkin boy is waiting over four years for a first assessment for Occupational Therapy (OT) treatment at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Cherry Orchard Hospital.

Rachel Moore, mother of the young boy, says she has been bounced back and forth within the health service in a desperate effort to seek support for her son.

She says repeated promises from CAMHS for an assessment have failed to materialise, and private assessments for her son are not accepted by the HSE, leaving her with “nowhere to turn.”

“In all my years attending CAMHS, all they have offered me is heartbreak,” said Rachel.

To compound matters, Rachel has four sons, one who is diagnosed with Autism, and another who is waiting a year to be assessed for Dyspraxia.

She doesn’t wish to name her sons, as she feels that could adversely affect attempts to receive help from the health service.

Figures in The Echo two weeks ago, revealed over 460 children in Dublin Mid-West are waiting on a first OT assessment, with over 200 children waiting over a year.

An independent assessment of needs is required in order to get a child diagnosed, but with long waiting times, parents are frustrated due to the importance of early interventions.

Rachel continued: “When I first found out something was going on with my son, I thought it was the end of the world. I’ve had to educate myself, and learned a lot from local mothers like Lisa Coleman (mother of a son with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)).

“I don’t know if my son is on the ASD spectrum. He needs to be assessed. A year and a half ago, the GP in CAMHS said he needed to be assessed, but then they said they were understaffed. Last September two psychiatrists in Tallaght Hospital wanted to move it forward, but referred him back to CAMHS. The stress this is putting me under is causing heartbreak.”

Mothers in Clondalkin have been in touch with The Echo over the last six months to highlight the long waiting times for sensory supports in the area.

Greenfort parent Lisa Coleman cited “waiting lists to get on waiting lists.”

Lisa established the Clondalkin Autism Mammies Facebook group after trying for years to get supports for her son Mason (9), who has autism.

“A lot of parents are paying €200-300 for a private assessment, in order to put their kid’s name down for a place in pre-school, but the schools say they need a HSE report. You are literally going around in circles,” said Lisa.

Rachel continued: “I’m doing the best I can. I couldn’t just leave my kids with nothing. You have to get help. Nobody wants to go down this road, but I hope he gets answers.”

The Echo contacted the HSE for comment on the problem, but had not received a reply before going to press.