Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2017
421. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his views on a programme (details supplied), which showed a number of children in severe pain due to waiting lists for surgeries; the immediate action he is going to take to address waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6930/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe personal stories of people waiting for treatment included in the RTE programme 'Living on the List' are deeply moving and the experiences they describe are absolutely inexcusable.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. In 2016, I made over €11m of 2016 Winter Initiative funding available to provide additional patient treatment in 2016. Specifically, €2m of the funding was made available for surgery for scoliosis patients. The Children's Hospital Group has advised me that, in 2016, over fifty additional patients were treated under this initiative.
The HSE has committed to submit to me by 17 February, Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 to ensure that no patient is waiting more than 15 months for an inpatient, daycase procedure or outpatient appointment by the end of October 2017.
On 7th February a number of actions in relation to scoliosis were announced. Additional theatre capacity will be provided for scoliosis procedures in Crumlin Children's Hospital from April. An orthopaedic post in Crumlin will be filled by June and an Action Plan for Scoliosis will be presented to me by the HSE by the end of February.
