Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
998. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting on a first appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon in Children's Health Ireland and other hospitals across the HSE in tabular form; the length of wait for each child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1335/21]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Further to the deferral of most routine scheduled care activity in March, April, and May of last year due to the pandemic, the HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19.
This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in Covid-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
In relation to the information requested by the Deputy, the attached spreadsheet outlines the number of children awaiting a first appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon in Children’s Health Ireland and other hospitals across the HSE in tabular form.
In the Irish health system, patients are generally referred for children’s hospital services up to the eve of their 16th birthday, however, there are exceptions. The NTPF classify children/adults as follows:
- Child only hospitals - all patients are classed as children, regardless of age.
- Adult only hospitals - all patients are classed as adults, regardless of age.
- Adult and Child Hospitals - patients under the age of 16 are classed as children, all other patients are classed as adults.
