Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018
841. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on the dropping of the four scoliosis surgery wait targets for 2018 contrary to the Ombudsman for Children's recommendations contained in the report, Waiting for Scoliosis Treatment - A Children's Rights Issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55028/17]
View answer842. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that there are no agreed surgical criteria for scoliosis surgery or agreed plan for 2018 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55029/17]
View answer845. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the plan for 2018 in regard to children who are waiting on scoliosis surgery and procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55032/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 841, 842 and 845 together.
I continue to support the HSE in its efforts to bring down the waiting times for and improve access to scoliosis services. Waiting list numbers on the scoliosis active waiting list dropped from 312 patients in February 2017 to 156 by 31 December 2017. This is as a result of the concerted efforts of staff and clinicians across the treating hospitals, HSE and Children's Hospital Group to increase activity within our children's hospitals, the Mater and Cappagh hospitals as well as of outsourcing initiatives developed by the HSE. 371 surgeries took place in 2017 across all treating hospitals both home and abroad, including two hospitals which were successful in an international tender run by the HSE for paediatric spinal fusion procedures.
A Paediatric Scoliosis Services Co-Design group is in place, which includes clinicians, hospital staff and representatives from the scoliosis advocacy groups, to design a comprehensive contemporary and patient-centred approach to the delivery of scoliosis services.
€9 million investment funding has been allocated for 2018 to the HSE for the development of paediatric orthopaedic services including scoliosis. The 2018 Service Plan includes a commitment from the HSE to continue to improve access to paediatric orthopaedics, including surgery for scoliosis, in conjunction with the Children’s Hospital Group to achieve clinically appropriate waiting times. This will be underpinned by the development of a standardised pathway of care for children and adolescents with scoliosis which will be evidence-based and patient-centred. Further development of Scoliosis services will be guided by the recommendations emerging from the work of the Co-Design Group. The Co-Design Group is also working towards publishing agreed criteria for surgery which are based on clinical grounds and national and international best practice.
The HSE has confirmed that the 4-month target for accessing surgery for scoliosis will be maintained into 2018 and beyond.
