Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015
788. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 22 October 2015, the name of the orthopaedic surgeon who has been retained by the surgical symphysiotomy payment scheme. [38042/15]
View answerThe Surgical Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme is operating very well since it was established on 10 November 2014. It was estimated that 350 women would apply to the Scheme, but in fact 578 applications have been accepted by the Scheme and as at 23 October 2015, 317 offers have been made.
Judge Clark has confirmed to my officials that she consults leaders in the fields of obstetrics, gynaecology, orthopaedics, pelvic surgery and radiology to assist her in assessing applications. The consultants concerned are eminently qualified in their respective fields to do this work. As the operation of the Scheme is independent, it is a matter for the Judge to decide what or whose medical expertise is required. The Judge will publish details of these experts in her final report to the Minister, but she is not prepared to have them personally challenged in their role as her advisers at this stage.
It may be useful to point out to the Deputy that “surgical symphysiotomy” means a procedure undertaken for obstetric purposes, involving the cutting of the pubic symphysis, which excludes the spontaneous separation of the pubic symphysis during childbirth. The majority of women who applied to the scheme had undergone this procedure and a proportion of that cohort had significant disability as a result of the procedure. Their awards were either €50,000 or €100,000, depending on the extent of the disability resulting from the procedure. A further amount of €150,000 is awardable where a symphysiotomy was carried out immediately following caesarean section and caused significant disability.
A “pubiotomy” means a procedure undertaken for obstetric purposes, which cuts through the pubic bone. A very small percentage of the Applicants had undergone this procedure. Pubiotomy carries an award of €100,000 once the procedure is established and €150,000 if significant disability is established.
