Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Tánaiste's response. The waiting list for children with scoliosis is increasing. The time that children are having to spend on the waiting list is increasing. Teenagers with scoliosis are having to wait up to three years for early interventions. Dr. David Moore, who is a consultant in orthopaedic paediatrics, has said:

Operating on a child who has been subject to unnecessary delays between diagnosis and surgery is like [dealing with a very profound situation]. Research shows that when a child’s surgery is delayed until they hit a 70° curvature ... they are subject to a longer surgery, greater intraoperative blood loss, more fused vertebrae [and] double the blood transfusion risk.

The issue here is early intervention.

The waiting lists in Crumlin's orthopaedic department have increased significantly since March. I ask that the Tánaiste roll up her sleeves to give some level of hope to families who have been languishing on waiting lists and to children who are suffering in pain. I ask her to ensure the Minister rolls up his sleeves too. He is one of the highest paid Ministers for Health in Europe. We are asking for action for children who are languishing in pain on waiting lists.

Early intervention is the key because, after the age of 16, there is little or no point in intervening because the likelihood is that an operation to address curvature will fail. After diagnosis, what is required is investment but we do not see any urgency or political will on the part of Government in this area. Look at the waiting lists in Crumlin - they have increased since March. I acknowledge that, at a very late stage, the Government is attempting to do something but that is only because it is exposed.

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