David Cullinane
Ceist:1665. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost to baseline additional funding given to Cappagh and CHI for paediatric orthopaedics, if any. [29900/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 14 June 2022
Ceisteanna (1665)
Freagraí scríofa
Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) and Cappagh Hospital submitted proposals to improve waiting times for orthopaedic services; this includes Scoliosis and Spina Bifida. Both current and capital funding totalling €17.43 million has been approved for this initiative. The plan will result in an additional 67 spinal fusions and 28 spinal other procedures for children with Scoliosis, as well as an additional 141 procedures for children with Spina Bifida. The plan also allocates substantial paediatric orthopaedic procedures at Cappagh orthopaedic hospital, with 720 additional procedures planned for the year.
By using the capacity provided by Cappagh for less complex orthopaedic patients, including routine scoliosis procedures, CHI can free up space in order that complex orthopaedic procedures, including scoliosis spinal fusions, can be carried out centrally at CHI sites. The impact of the plan has already been recorded with increased activity year to date. Year to date by the end of May 2022, 197 scoliosis procedures had been carried out, compared to 156 for the same period in 2019. The number of patients waiting longer than 6 months for a scoliosis procedure has also reduced to 79 by the end of May, compared to 103 in August 2020.
In relation to the query raised by the Deputy, €3.4 million has been committed to support additional activity at Cappagh Orthopaedic hospital in 2022. This is the full year requirement associated with the €1.65 million that was provided from the Access to Care Fund in 2021 to support CHI paediatric orthopaedic activity at Cappagh. This funding supports a WTE of 42.73 staff members as well as associated medical and surgical costs, equipment, and other non-pay related expenditure.
The source of this funding stream is the 2022 Waiting List Action Plan. As is clear from the expenditure type, this is of a committed type, rather than once off, therefore this funding stream is envisioned to be maintained in future years. While as yet the Department does not have any funding beyond 2022, and will not until Budget 2023 is agreed, the intention is to maintain this spending.