AVERAGE waiting times for speech and language therapy are breaching national guidelines, it has been revealed.
According to an answer to a written States question from St John Constable Andy Jehan, there were 166 children on the waiting list for an initial appointment as of last week.
Children are assigned a RAG rating by the Health Department, with red indicating ‘high priority’, amber ‘medium priority’ and green ‘low priority’.
Health Minister Richard Renouf, in his response, said high-priority children were waiting more than 34 weeks for an initial assessment, compared to a target of 13 weeks set by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ guidance.
Medium-priority children faced a wait of more than 36 weeks, against a 17-week target, while low-priority youngsters waited over 40 weeks with guidance recommending a 20-week wait.
Current waiting-time targets were due to be analysed ‘as part of a service review’, Deputy Renouf said.
Mr Jehan said: ‘It is very disappointing that the waiting times are more than twice the length of the guidance.
‘We need to put a plan in place to reduce the waiting time as it is essential that youngsters receive the help and support that they need as soon as they can.’
