Joint Committee on Health to discuss delays in scoliosis treatment with HSE and Children's Health Ireland

Connor Green, Consultant paediatric orthopaedic surgeon and Professor Damien McCormack are due to attend the first halfof the meeting. 

 Liam Woods, National Director, Acute Operations HSE, Helen Byrne, Assistant National Director, Acute Operations. HSE, Eilísh Hardiman, Chief Executive Children’s Health Ireland, Paula Kelly, Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon Children’s Health Ireland and Robert Kelly, Head of Corporate Affairs Children’s Health Ireland are due to attend the second half of the meeting. 

 Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Seán Crowe said: “It is extremely regrettable that children and young people with scoliosis can spend years in terrible pain and discomfort while on waiting lists for hospital appointments and treatment. Waiting times for appointments and procedures for scoliosis patients have been an issue since long before the Covid-19 pandemic and the HSE Cyberattack earlier this year but they have only worsened as a result. This is a serious burden that children and their families should not have to live with so the Committee looks forward to hearing about how these issues can be overcome as we emerge from the pandemic.”

Committee proceeding can be watched live on the website and on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.