Thousands of Irish Children Missing Out on Under-Six Health Checks, Watchdog Warns
Published
A new report from an Irish watchdog has found that thousands of children are not receiving universal health and development checks before the age of six. The findings suggest that the State has not done enough to make sure these checks are delivered effectively to every child in the country.
The health checks are designed to monitor how young children are growing and developing. They can help doctors and health workers find problems early, when treatment and support are often most effective. Because the checks are meant to be available to all children, the watchdog says that missing them could leave some young people at greater risk of undetected health or development difficulties.
The report does not give a full explanation for every gap in the service, but it makes clear that the current system is not working as it should. Families who are unable to attend appointments, or who do not know that checks are available, may be among those most affected. The watchdog's findings raise questions about how well the health system reaches children across different parts of Ireland.
The findings are likely to put pressure on the Government and the Health Service Executive to improve how these checks are organised and promoted. Parents who are unsure whether their child has had the required checks are advised to contact their local public health service or GP for information.
Sources: The Irish Times
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