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10/03/2005
Commissioner calls for end to speech therapy postcode lottery
The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People today called for an end to the postcode lottery in speech and language therapy services.
Nigel Williams today published an overview report on speech and language therapy services to children and young people in Northern Ireland.
The Commissioner said he was calling for the creation of a Task Force to develop an urgent action plan on speech and language therapy.
“Since I took up office I have received a considerable number of complaints from children and young people and those that care for them about speech and language therapy services,” he said.
“It is clear from this overview of speech and language that the wait for services varies enormously across Northern Ireland. That means that how long a child or young person waits for therapy can depend entirely on their postcode.”
Mr Williams said that all the parents he has spoken to had praised the professional work of speech and language therapists.
A copy of the report is available at www.niccy.org/downloads/overview.pdf.
(MB/SP)
Nigel Williams today published an overview report on speech and language therapy services to children and young people in Northern Ireland.
The Commissioner said he was calling for the creation of a Task Force to develop an urgent action plan on speech and language therapy.
“Since I took up office I have received a considerable number of complaints from children and young people and those that care for them about speech and language therapy services,” he said.
“It is clear from this overview of speech and language that the wait for services varies enormously across Northern Ireland. That means that how long a child or young person waits for therapy can depend entirely on their postcode.”
Mr Williams said that all the parents he has spoken to had praised the professional work of speech and language therapists.
A copy of the report is available at www.niccy.org/downloads/overview.pdf.
(MB/SP)
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