Figures 'expose scandal of children’s health waiting times in Mayo' – TD

A Mayo TD has called for urgent action after figures obtained by her party have exposed the shocking extent to which children’s health waiting times have spiralled out of control in Mayo.

Sinn Féin Deputy Conway-Walsh said: “Information I have received has revealed that across the state over 71,000 children are waiting for life changing treatment with over 19,000 of these children waiting over a year.

“I am deeply concerned by the particularly high figures here in the Mayo, Galway, and Roscommon area, 10,105 children are on a waiting list, with 4,270 of these children waiting for over a year.

“There are huge waiting lists for occupational therapy, physiotherapy, ophthalmology, mental health, speech and language, psychology and dietetics.

“I am both shocked and angered by how many children are being forced to wait on long waiting lists for essential healthcare in CHO 2 – Mayo, Galway, and Roscommon. This is scandalous and should not be happening.

“Children are being denied the opportunity to reach their full potential by years of underinvestment healthcare by successive governments.

“It is heart-breaking for these children and their families that they have been let down and left behind by the state. Behind every statistic are real lives and real childhoods put on hold due to government failings.

“We need to move away from this postcode lottery. No one’s address should ever determine their access to timely healthcare.

“We need to see targeted investment to tackle these long waiting lists and ensure all patients, regardless of age, can access healthcare in a timely way."