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A mother with three rare lung diseases has raised concerns about sending her eight-year-old son to school.
Kellie Tallant has a rare lung condition called Swyer James syndrome, which meant she had to remove half of her left lung.
She has been classified as high risk by Covid-19 and her GP told her to settle in. Now Ms. Tallant has to weigh her own health concerns against her son Charlie’s need for an education.
She said: “The benefit of Charlie getting an education is much greater than the risk of me getting this virus.
“She is eight years old, her education is very important to me and to her future self.”
Ms. Tallant not only wants her son, who is starting third class, to go back to school to learn, but she says it is vital for him to receive a Needs Assessment (AON).
Charlie was referred for an AON under the School Age Team in June 2018. Over two years later, he has yet to be evaluated.
Figures obtained by Morning Ireland from RTÉ in July showed that more than 5,000 children are waiting longer than the law allows for their needs to be assessed.
Data from the Health Service Executive revealed that the average waiting time was 19 months, despite a legal requirement for the evaluation to be completed within six months.
AON is seen as the key to unlocking access to public health services that can benefit the child.
Charlie attends The Harold School in Glasthule, Co Dublin, where he was receiving dog therapy and LEGO therapy.
Ms. Tallant praised the school’s support for Charlie, but noted that until his needs are professionally assessed, they cannot be sure that he is receiving the specific help he may need.
“From young children, their teachers began to notice problems with social interaction, eye contact, and their motor skills, then from the older children to the first class, they became more worrisome,” said Ms. Tallant.
“His teachers say that now it is a matter of urgency.”
She added: “As a parent, I feel like you have been extremely disappointed, that no child should be waiting 27 months for an evaluation, I don’t think it is acceptable for children to be left behind in a system like this.”
The HSE has said: “While Needs Assessment (AON) requests under the Disability Act continued to be accepted, the HSE acknowledges that earlier this year during the Covid-19 pandemic situation, it was not possible that The services will conduct clinical evaluations while maintaining social distancing and meeting health and safety requirements.
“The effective redeployment of health service employees, including physicians, was also a central element of the HSE response to Covid-19. Therefore, it has been difficult to complete the Needs Assessments within the established timelines. by the law”.
The HSE continues to plan “the reestablishment of vital non-Covid supports and services” and said that “additional funds have been allocated to facilitate additional AONs and plans for these are being finalized in each area of the Community Health Organization.”
Ms. Tallant is hopeful that her needs will be assessed before the end of the year.
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