Ireland, Keith Duffy– has described the HSE’s waiting lists for the assessment and diagnosis of autistic children as “disgusting” the Irish Independent reports.
Mr Duffy’s daughter Mia, 14 has autism and said that with autism early diagnosis is essential. Speaking at the launch of Autism Awareness Month at Croke Park he said,
“The HSE told us we would have to wait two-and-a-half years to get Mia assessed. It was just too long. I wanted things done yesterday.”
Mia was diagnosed with autism at 18 months.
In response to Mr Duffy’s claims, the HSE said it was introducing
“a number of initiatives” such as providing “family-centred interventions in a group as opposed to a one-to-one setting”.
A HSE spokesperson said that the 2014 budget for Disability Services will include the rolling out of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme. This will provide 80 additional therapy staff to increase services for children with all disabilities including autism.
Autism Daily Newscast reported here Keith Duffy was recently honoured with the philanthropist of the year award in an award ceremony celebrating charitable sector work. Mr Duffy is a Boyzone band member and feverent autism campaigner.
The original article by Kirsty Blake Knox on the Irish Independent website can be found here