Waiting lists for free healthcare services or certain operations are understandable but waiting lists for children at risk and who need protection, are definitely not.

A number of services for children and families given by Appoġġ have waiting lists. At the same time, each social worker, or team member in the Appoġġ Child Protection Service, has some 40 cases to deal with. Children definitely cannot be treated as numbers.

A Board of Inquiry, that over a year ago had considered the case of two troubled teenagers, had concluded that each social worker had double or more the workload that should be assigned.

As a result of spending cuts, the government reduced the allocation of Appoġġ for this year by €178,000, although it has insisted the 2012 allocation remains higher than that of previous years.

Where are we going? Is money being spent effectively? And what results are we working for?

John Attard

Sliema