Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1757. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for scoliosis treatment; the length of time they have been on the waiting list; his plan to ensure that these children receive this treatment as soon as possible; if he plans to make additional funding available to achieve this goal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1641/22]
View answerI sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for scoliosis treatment, and I remain conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.
This Government’s commitment to improve scoliosis waiting times can be seen in the continued investment in paediatric orthopaedic services. Since 2018, €9 million has been allocated each year to the HSE specifically for the funding of paediatric orthopaedic services. This additional funding supported the recruitment of approximately 60 WTEs in 2018 and 2019 to enable the expansion of paediatric orthopaedic services.
Improving capacity to allow for additional activity is a key driver to improving waiting times. It is therefore welcome that a proposal to fund an additional theatre at Temple Street is currently progressing through the normal HSE capital approval process. In this context the HSE have advised that it is committed to working with CHI to progress plans to access additional theatre and diagnostic capacity in 2022 to support scoliosis, orthopaedic and general paediatric surgery waiting list improvements.
The continued collaboration between CHI and Cappagh has also provided much needed additional capacity and activity through the “Cappagh Kids” initiative. Further activity at Cappagh to support paediatric orthopaedic services will form part of the development of the 2022 Waiting List Action Plan.
This Government continues to invest funding to reduce the amount of time people are waiting for important hospital appointments and procedures. For 2022 €350 million has been committed to improve waiting times, including €200 million in additional funding to the HSE, and funding of €150 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund. This funding will be used to support the 2022 Waiting List Action Plan which is currently being finalised by the Department of Health. Plans to improve paediatric orthopaedic waiting times will be included within the 2022 plan- an area that remains a Ministerial priority.
Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has advised that all patients with a diagnosis of scoliosis require a pre-operative work-up prior to spinal surgery, including multiple diagnostic investigations and review by a multi-disciplinary team. The plan of care which is implemented for each patient is tailored to best meet the individual patient's clinical requirements. It is the responsibility of the treating Consultant to clinically prioritise patients for surgery on the waiting list.
The current surge in Covid-19 cases has put increasing pressures on hospitals and ICUs. As part of the response to this the HSE has advised all Hospital Groups to take a series of immediate actions which include a period of prioritising unscheduled care, COVID care and urgent time sensitive work - in particular in Model 4 hospitals.
In relation to the particular query raised regarding the number of children waiting for scoliosis treatment, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible
