Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
749. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of the process of hiring a pain management team and consultant full-time post at Children's Health Ireland, Crumlin (details supplied). [9609/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI know that CHI is aware that the current situation regarding the Paediatric Complex Pain Management Service is a cause of much anxiety and upset for parents and children. CHI has advised my Department that it met with the Complex Pain Patient Advocacy Group on Friday 7 February and advised them that it has written to all families whose children have been attending the complex pain management service in Crumlin or Temple Street to give them an update and contact numbers should they need clinical related advice for their child. CHI also updated the group on how interim services will work with CHI, which is the management of a number of priority patients in the first instance and a focus on communications with families.
The Consultant Anaesthesiologist with a special interest in Paediatric Complex Pain Management in CHI at Crumlin and Temple Street resigned in late 2019. This is a highly specialised position. Funding has been provided in 2020 to develop the Paediatric Complex Pain Management Service, including recruitment of Consultant Anaesthesia/Pain Specialists, Occupational Therapist, Psychologist, Physiotherapist and Advanced Nurse Practitioner. CHI has advised that this service is a priority for actively recruiting these posts through the normal Human Resources processes. It is hoped to fill these positions as soon as possible.
As an interim measure, CHI has secured the services of a Consultant Anaesthesiologist in Northern Ireland who specialises in both Paediatric and Adult Complex Pain Management who is assisting CHI staff in continuing the Paediatric Complex Pain Management Service for patients until these posts commence.
