WITH OVER 1300 CHILDREN IN CO GALWAY WAITING ON HEARING TESTS, THE HSE IS HOPEFUL THAT A VACANCY FOR A SCIENTIFIC AUDIOLOGIST CAN BE FILLED WITHIN WEEKS.

THE MATTER WAS RAISED AGAIN AT YESTERDAY’S REGIONAL HEALTH FORUM BY GALWAY FIANNA FAIL COUNTY COUNCILLOR MARY HOADE.

SINCE 2002, CHILDREN WITH HEARING PROBLEMS IN GALWAY HAVE NO FULLTIME SCIENTIFIC AUDIOLOGIST AVAILABLE TO THEM – AND ARE REYLING ON A LIMITED SERVICE BEING PROVIDED IN THE INTERIM.

THE HSE HAD ADVERTISED THE VACANCY ON EIGHT OCCASIONS SINCE 2002, BUT THE POSITION HAS NOT YET BEEN FILLED.

YESTERDAY, HSE OFFICIALS SAID A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES HAVE NOW APPLIED FOR THE SPECIALIST POSITION, AND IT’S HOPED TO APPOINT A HEARING SPECIALIST WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS.