Lib Dem spokesperson calls for earlier intervention (South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats <info@secambslibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dem spokesperson calls for earlier intervention

July 16, 2009 6:13 PM

Hardwick Division County Councillor, Fiona Whelan is the new Lib Dem spokes for Adult Services at the County Council. Having been in the job a matter of weeks since the June elections, Councillor Whelan is appalled at the continuing waiting times experienced by residents throughout the County for Occupational Therapy Services.

In the last two weeks alone, two stories have made the regional papers - that of a child with Autism in Ramsey waiting two years for an O.T. assessment and the tragic case of a man who died as a result of eating poisonous leaves shortly after being discharged from Fulbourn. At the time of his death he was waiting for an O.T. assessment.

Councillor Whelan and her family have had first experience of using the paediatric O.T. service and the detrimental effect that it can have on a young child when valuable months are wasted. "Every one involved in the provision of care for children with Autism knows that early intervention is essential. For a child to wait two years at such a formative time of their life is a travesty".

"The coming years are going to see us struggle to fund services throughout the County", says Fiona, "but the earlier we intervene in the case of children on the Autistic Spectrum, the better their long term outcome. We simply can not sit back and accept that people have such long waiting times. In the long run it will cost us all more - and not just financially"!