Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018
509. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of funding for additional paediatric rheumatology consultant posts in order to alleviate waiting lists for children suffering from juvenile arthritis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32294/18]
View answerImproving waiting times for hospital procedures and outpatient appointments is a key commitment in the Programme for Government.
In Budget 2018, CHG was allocated an additional €9million for paediatric orthopaedics, including scoliosis services, to further reduce waiting times for paediatric orthopaedic services and support the development of a sustainable paediatric orthopaedic service.
This funding is allocated across four hospitals, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital and the Mater Misericordiae Hospital.
The Children's Hospital Group (CHG) advise that there are currently 2 Consultation Paediatric Rheumatologist posts at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin (OLCHC) that make up 1.7 WTE. There is also 1 General Paediatrician with a special interest in rheumatology with 19.5 hours at Temple Street Children’s University Hospital (TSCUH) and part of their remit is to develop a rheumatology service.
Funding was also secured in late 2017 for two new Advanced Nursing Practitioner (ANP) posts as part of the National Demonstrator Pilot for ANP’s led by the Department of Health.
