Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 July 2016
579. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in dealing with the waiting list for scoliosis surgery for children at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin; if external surgery or treatment abroad can be considered for those on the waiting lists who are in severe pain and have been waiting over a year in some cases for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22055/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraScoliosis affects approximately 1% of children and adolescents in Ireland. The management of scoliosis is complex and is determined by the severity of the curvature and skeletal maturity.
Long waiting times for scoliosis surgery are not acceptable, and my Department has been working closely with the HSE to address services pressures, particularly in Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin (OLCHC), which is the largest provider of scoliosis surgery for children and young people. Additional funding of €1.042m was allocated under the 2015 Service Plan to increase capacity at OLCHC, and an additional orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist, and support staff, are now in place with recruitment of a further additional orthopaedic surgeon underway. Capital funding was also provided for a new theatre on site to expand theatre capacity further, and this is currently being commissioned. The Children's Hospital Group is proactively working on nurse recruitment to support the opening of the new theatre.
In the interim, significant external capacity was sourced in 2015 for OLCHC patients and 66 patients have been treated at other hospitals, including the Blackrock Clinic and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK. Further potential for additional external capacity to address waiting times is being examined. My Department will continue to work with the HSE and the relevant hospitals to ensure improvements in access to spinal surgery.
