Children forced to wait for speech help

Enzo Sivori has waited more than a year to see a speech therapist

Children in Wales who need speech therapy are having to wait up to two years to see an expert, according to a report.

The document published on Thursday claims more than 400 extra specialists are needed in the country.

The shortage means that many children are waiting for appointments which are often scheduled too late to help them.

The consultation document has been drawn up by Welsh education and health services along with the Welsh Assembly Government.

Worrying

At a conference organised by the Speech and Language Services for Children and Young People in Wales on Thursday, experts will say that there are not enough speech and language therapists to meet a growing need in Wales.

Welsh-speaking therapists in particular are in very short supply.

Specialists say they have the best results with children when they are young, and the fact that they have to wait for appointments for such long periods of time is worrying.

The Welsh Assembly Government said it acknowledges the "gap" in demand and provision, adding that it has been actively working to address this issue on an equitable basis across Wales.

Health Minister Jane Hutt said that by 2010 there will be sufficient therapists and other professionals to support special education needs provision in both English and Welsh.

There are currently 259 speech therapists working in Wales but it is thought that a further 459 are needed.