Thousands in Wicklow left on waiting list for therapy appointments
The Wicklow PeopleNew figures show thousands of people have been left waiting for essential adult physiotherapy and occupational therapy service assessments.
In the Wicklow and Kildare/West Wicklow areas there are currently 1,709 adults waiting for occupational therapy assessment by the HSE, with 184 waiting over a year.
In physiotherapy, 3,098 adults are waiting, with 359 waiting over a year. In Wicklow alone there are 4807 adults combined waiting for occupational therapy or physiotherapy services, with over 500 of these waiting longer than a year.
The figures were obtained by Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, John Brady, who said the situation is spiralling out of control.
“The waiting lists are snowballing to a point where the HSE simply will not be able to keep pace, and communities are being left to suffer because of chronic government neglect.”
He stressed the impact these delays are having are people’s lives.
“Without proper access to physiotherapy or occupational therapy they are unable to return home, they remain stuck in hospital beds for months, they become institutionalised, and their independence and freedom are taken away.”
Brady was critical of chronic understaffing in the HSE, and the government’s reliance on costly private agency workers.
“The HSE budget continues to increase year on year, but people do not see this reflected in shorter waiting times or improved care. Instead, we see spiralling spending on agency staff while permanent posts remain unfilled.
“That is not a strategy, it is inefficient spending, and it leaves patients waiting longer and longer.”
He called on the government to urgently act to fix the crisis.
“We need proper staffing, resourcing and investment, alongside a clear strategy to reduce waiting lists. Anything less is simply condemning people to unnecessary pain, suffering and loss of independence.” he added.