At present there is a minimum one-year waiting period for children referred for speech therapy at the Scarborough General Hospital. No such services are available privately on the island. Medical personnel are aware of the inordinate delay and lament “the system”. This is of no comfort to parents/guardians, and most certainly a disservice to children for whom early intervention is critical!
This letter is a public plea to the Prime Minister, the Chief Secretary and any other person in authority or in a position to help, to intervene and improve “the system” in Tobago. The Speech Therapy Department urgently requires additional support and attention. Children are being referred with no hope of assessment or prompt intervention that would allow them a better chance to succeed at school and later as positive contributing members of our society.
A new model of intervention may also be needed that includes parents, teachers and child-minders as active, trained units of support for the children who need it.
The prevailing situation is untenable, disadvantages our children, and almost guarantees them falling behind in their social, language and educational development. They deserve better.
Ruth Moore
Scarborough