Audiology waiting lists in Cork
Colm Burke highlights very long audiology waits in Cork-Kerry and a shortage of audiologists, urging immediate action. The Tánaiste says demand and recruitment pressures are driving the delays and points to a national hearing care plan being developed.
In the Cork-Kerry region, 2,619 people are waiting for the audiology service appointments and it takes 117 weeks from referral by a GP or health specialist until someone gets an appointment. I am very concerned that there are only 14.2 audiologists working in the region. It is no longer adequate.
There is also a strong link between hearing loss and the early onset of dementia. What action will be taken to deal with this waiting list? Someone who is aged 82 will be 85 by the time they get an appointment. That is the type of problem we face. I ask that immediate action be taken on the matter.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of audiology services in Cork. I am informed there are two factors particularly impacting the waiting lists in Cork. One is demand in our ageing population. That is something we should be able to plan for. The second is a specific issue regarding recruitment pressures. The Department of Health and the HSE are working together to remedy this with a new national hearing care plan. The Minister for Health established a working group to develop that last August. It is jointly chaired by the Department of Health and the HSE. Membership of the working group is drawn from relevant stakeholders, including the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists, the Irish Academy of Audiology and the Department of Social Protection. I will ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill to directly link with the Deputy on that work and how we can make progress in Cork.