Health Minister David Ashford has ordered a ’fundamental review’ of the speech and language therapy service, after cuts came under fire in Tynwald last week.

As last week’s Isle of Man Examiner revealed, the service wrote to schools, before Christmas, to warn them that, due to staffing problems and an increased caseload, it would have ’significantly reduce’ the level of intervention that had previously been carried out.

That included no longer taking new referrals for children in key stage two (ages seven to 11) and above, apart from referrals for stammering.

New referrals would continue to be taken for children in reception and key stage one (years one and two).

In Tynwald last week, Mr Ashford said there would be a ’fundamental review of the way that we deliver the service’.

The letter sent out to schools said the caseload had increased by 150, and Tynwald members heard the overall total number of cases was more than 300. There were two full-time case workers in the service, while a part-time staff member was set to go on maternity leave.

Responding to questions from Daphne Caine (Garff), Mr Ashford outlined the changes that were taking place.

He said: ’Some internal restructuring, a growing caseload and a shortage of professional resources led to the conclusion that, for a period, the current level of speech and language therapy support in schools cannot be maintained.

’The service delivery for pre-school and reception age children with complex speech disorders is being prioritised, ensuring that early intervention continues and I think that is absolutely crucial.’

He added: ’This will help children to be more school-ready and allow them to access the curriculum with a minimum of support from educational professionals.’

The changes would have biggest impact on pupils in key stage two and above, he said, with a block on new referrals ’for the time being’.

Education department member Lawrie Hooper (Ramsey) queried whether the message from Mr Ashford was the same as contained in the letter in schools.

’The minister earlier said that the reduction in service is primarily going to impact new referrals and that those already inside the services are going to keep receiving it,’ said Mr Hooper.

’The letter, on the other hand, directly contradicts that and says that the changes will concern children both currently referred to the speech and language therapy and future referrals.’

In addition, he said, the letter warned, with regard to children in reception and year one, ’there will be no direct input for children with language difficulties’ only those that have complex speech disorders.

Mr Ashford said: ’The information I have in front of me is that in relation to reception and key stage one, new referrals will continue, obviously, to be accepted and that children will be assessed and those requiring intervention will be placed on a waiting list for therapy.

’At the moment, the current waiting time for appointments for initial assessments is four months.’

During the same sitting, Education Minister Graham Cregeen acknowledged the concern at the cuts and said his department was working with health chiefs to find a solution.