Patients can be waiting up to three years to be seen by an occupational therapist in the Dublin West region, it was confirmed yesterday.
The former South Western Area Health Board confirmed the waiting time, but stressed that in urgent cases patients were seen immediately.Patients over 80 years would be seen within six months, it added.
The waiting times were highlighted by Green Party TD Paul Gogarty, who said an 87-year-old woman in the Lucan area had been told last week she would have to wait three years to be assessed to see if she was entitled to have a shower installed. However, she later received word she would be assessed immediately.
But Mr Gogarty said the waiting times for many others to be seen by occupational therapists were shocking and appalling and needed to be tackled urgently. The HSE said more staff were being recruited.
Mr Gogarty also claimed that another woman in the region was told she would have to wait up to 18 months for a routine check-up for her infant.
The HSE South Western Area said in a statement that developmental screening examinations of infants usually took place at around nine months.
However, it added: "It is the case that this can take place some months later in Dublin West, due to other service priorities."