I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 170 together.
In order to reduce the long waiting times for scoliosis surgery for children and young people, I asked the HSE to develop an Action Plan for 2017. The HSE Scoliosis Waiting List Update and Service Development Plan has been finalised and details of it are available on the HSE website. The Plan aims to ensure that no patient who requires spinal fusion or other scoliosis procedures, including halo traction, will be waiting more than four months for surgery by the end of the year, where that is appropriate clinically. The HSE has advised the Department that every patient, including children under the age of 14, who needs to be treated in 2017, has been considered and is included in the overall plan for scoliosis services.
The Plan includes measures to increase capacity in the children's hospitals as well as proposals to outsource some spinal procedures to other hospitals nationally and internationally. The Children's Hospital Group is monitoring progress made and is reporting to the Department on a weekly basis.
While the Plan endeavours to deliver on short to medium term reduction in the waiting lists, in tandem the HSE is working to develop a long-term sustainable solution for scoliosis and paediatric orthopaedic cases. The numbers of patients on each of the waiting list categories is being taken into account in planning the future service requirements.