Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 September 2016
216. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the strategy and funding in place to ensure that scoliosis patients have their required operations within the international norm of three to six months; the number of scoliosis patients waiting for two years and over for operations; his strategy relative to this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27902/16]
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.
The HSE Winter Initiative 2016-2017, published on 9 September, also includes €2m provided specifically for scoliosis patients to treat 39 adolescent patients on the Tallaght waiting list and an additional 15-20 paediatric patients from the Crumlin waiting list by year end.
I recently met with a number of scoliosis advocacy groups to discuss their concerns and my Department will continue to work with the HSE and the relevant hospitals to ensure improvements in access to spinal surgery. In relation to the specific query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
