Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
686. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children on paediatric rheumatology waiting lists waiting to see a consultant; the waiting times by month; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41828/20]
View answer687. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children with Down syndrome-related arthritis on paediatric rheumatology waiting lists waiting to see a consultant; the waiting times by month; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41829/20]
View answer688. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children on paediatric rheumatology waiting lists waiting for a MRI; the waiting times by month; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41830/20]
View answer689. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children with Down syndrome-related arthritis on paediatric rheumatology waiting lists waiting for a MRI; the waiting times by month; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41831/20]
View answer690. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children on paediatric rheumatology waiting lists waiting for treatment by type of treatment; the waiting times by month; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41832/20]
View answer691. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children with Down syndrome-related arthritis on paediatric rheumatology waiting lists waiting for treatment by type of treatment; the waiting times by month; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41833/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 686 to 691, inclusive, together.
I sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for Rheumatology treatment, and I am conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.
Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has advised my Department that during the initial phases of COVID-19, all face to face hospital outpatient reviews and most of the planned diagnostic tests, including MRI, were deferred in response to the pandemic. CHI at Crumlin have recommenced the majority of outpatient and diagnostic services, albeit at reduced numbers, due to public health guidelines on social distancing. Currently, Consultant Rheumatologists are seeing a number of patients in the outpatient suite including urgent patients and those who were deferred during the early phases of COVID-19.
CHI has further advised that there is an active recruitment campaign for an additional Rheumatology Consultant underway. This addition to the medical staff will allow for an increased number of patients to be seen, diagnosed and treatment initiated, as part of the comprehensive Rheumatology service.
In relation to the provision of MRI services, the demand for specialist imaging has increased over recent years due to increased activity and acuity in CHI, as well as an increasing trend to utilise imaging in diagnosis and treatment. CHI have advised that, uniquely to Paediatrics, younger children and children up to 18 years old with complex needs may be unable to remain still in an MRI for the lengthy periods required to complete the scan, resulting in the requirement for a General Anaesthetic (GA) to be delivered by a Paediatric Anaesthesiologist. This limits the ability for these scans to be performed outside of CHI hospitals. CHI have confirmed to my Department that each request for an MRI scan is carefully examined by Consultant Radiologists who must prioritise, based on clinical urgency, each case in terms of access to the scanner.
CHI has advised that patients with Down Syndrome who present to Rheumatology services with suspicion of arthritis are clinically assessed and diagnosed by the clinical team. A cohort of these patients will require an MRI scan based on the individualised clinical examination and recommendation.
With regard to waiting lists for MRI, the HSE advises that a pilot project commenced in 2016 by the HSE Acute Hospitals Division to progress the collection of national radiology waiting list data. The data is reported quarterly, and the attached table shows the waiting list by time band at CHI at the end of Quarter 3, 2020. Due to the nature of this data the HSE have advised that it is not possible to determine the proportion of the waiting list associated with specific specialties such as Rheumatology diagnosis or treatment.
In relation to waiting lists for Rheumatology Outpatient appointments and Inpatient and Day Case procedures the tables attached show the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) published figures at the end of October 2020. NTPF waiting lists are collected in respect of outpatient specialties and inpatient/daycase procedures. Waiting times can be examined in terms of the appointment or procedure that a patient is waiting for, however it is not possible to identify patients based on their clinical diagnosis.
Quarter 3 2020 waiting list for MRI at Children's Health Ireland
|
0-3 mths |
3-6 mths |
6-9 mths |
9-12 mths |
12-15 mths |
15-18 mths |
18+ mths |
Total |
|
886 |
487 |
507 |
400 |
290 |
255 |
504 |
3329 |
