PEI

Health Minister Doug Currie pressed about wait times for children

The opposition continues to press Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie about service wait times for children with special health needs

Opposition House leader James Aylward listed off some of the wait times for services

Health Minister Doug Currie. In September, the province announced it would provide $750,000 for the next five years for children with complex needs. (CBC)

The opposition continues to press Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie about service wait times for children with special health needs.

During question period in the Legislature Thursday, Opposition House leader James Aylward listed off some of the wait times for services.

He said it was a two year wait for a preschool autism assessment, a year for audiology testing, four to five months for speech language pathology and four months for occupational therapy.

In September, the province announced it would provide $750,000 for the next five years for children with complex needs.

Aylward suggested that money would not make a dent in what was needed to reduce wait times.

Currie said the government is working in conjunction with Health P.E.I.

“As part of the strategic plan, we have identified that more investment and more targeted investment needed to be focused on children with unique needs,” he said.

“My expectation, I will be getting updates on the reduction of those wait times which is tied into the investment we made, so children with unique needs and their families get the support they need.”

Aylward also pointed out that this extra medical help was only provided for children up until age six. He suggested this should be extended to cover children up to age 18.