Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2018
366. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the reason there has only been one scoliosis surgery carried out in UCHG in 2018 in view of the fact that seven persons are on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43231/18]
View answerThe Saolta Hospital Group has advised that scoliosis surgery is currently carried out at University Hospital Galway (UHG). To date this year UHG has carried out one scoliosis surgery and there are currently seven patients awaiting scoliosis surgery at the hospital.
The Saolta Hospital Group advises that the waiting list for spinal surgery is a priority for UHG and work is ongoing to ensure that arrangements are in place in order to facilitate the level of complexity involved in relation to spinal surgery for patients with scoliosis.
At present, Saolta advises that UHG has limited capacity to undertake elective spinal procedures but is actively working on developing the elements required to support the service including inpatient beds, high-end equipment, theatre capacity, and staffing from within existing resources.
