Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 May 2018
381. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the four-month waiting list target for surgeries for children suffering with scoliosis not being met as committed to previously; the steps he has taken to ensure that the 88 children currently waiting longer than four months will be catered for as urgently as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23302/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving waiting times for hospital procedures and outpatient appointments is a key commitment in the programme for Government.
The development of a sustainable and safe paediatric orthopaedic service, including scoliosis services for children and young people has been prioritised in the 2018. An additional €9 million has been provided to the HSE in 2018 specifically to develop paediatric orthopaedic services, including increasing access to scoliosis services.
The HSE has confirmed that it will maintain the 4-month target in 2018 and beyond, which is international best practice, for all patients who are clinically deemed to require scoliosis surgery now.
Figures provided by the Children's Hospital Group (CHG) show that as of the week-ending 18th May 2018, there were 178 patients on the scoliosis waiting list, with 84 patients waiting more than 4 months.
Patients waiting over 4 months are reviewed weekly in relation to their treatment plan. Decisions to schedule patients are made clinically. In line with the Scoliosis Action Plan 2018, the CHG will prioritise inpatient access to include outsourcing initiatives to achieve a 4 month waiting time for clinically deemed treatments and offers of outsourcing are currently being made to the families of those deemed clinically suitable.
The HSE advise that, under the National Service Plan 2018, funding for two new consultant posts for paediatric orthopaedics has been provided and these appointments are expected to be finalised in quarter 4 of 2018. These posts are to be allocated to Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin and Temple Street Children’s University Hospital for paediatric orthopaedics and are expected to have a positive impact on current patient waiting times.
The CHG advise that capacity challenges are managed daily, with each of the three children’s hospitals supporting each other in terms of bed utilisation and availability.
The HSE advise that a Paediatric Scoliosis Services Co-Design group is in place, which includes clinicians, hospital staff and representatives from the scoliosis advocacy groups, to design a comprehensive, contemporary, and patient-centred approach to the delivery of scoliosis services.
The CHG has developed an integration strategy to integrate clinical and non-clinical services across the three hospitals and to ensure a smooth transition to the new facilities. A central referrals system is being developed as part of this integration strategy which will be key to supporting clinical services to operate as a single service across multiple locations. The system will be introduced on a phased basis commencing with general paediatrics in the first quarter of 2019.
