Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has given a very good and detailed explanation of the challenges Anna and her family face. I fully understand the situation because I have also come across constituents facing similar challenges.

I am here on behalf of the Minister for Health. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter of children on waiting lists for scoliosis surgery. The Minister acknowledges that waiting lists for scoliosis services are unacceptably long. He is acutely conscious of the burden this places on patients and their families. For this reason, the Minister for Health committed €19 million to scoliosis and spina bifida services to tackle these lists by creating additional capacity. The goal is clear; it is to reduce the waiting time for anyone for whom surgery is clinically appropriate to no more than four months.

To date, over 200 additional healthcare professionals have been recruited across Temple Street, Crumlin and Cappagh hospitals, including nurses, consultant doctors, anaesthesiologists and radiographers. This investment also funded a fifth theatre in Temple Street, an additional MRI in Crumlin and additional beds. The impact of this investment can already be seen. There was a significant increase in the number of paediatric spinal procedures carried out in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, 509 spinal procedures were carried out, and in 2023, 464 spinal procedures were carried out. This represents increases of 34% and 22%, respectively, compared to 2019.

Despite undertaking record numbers of procedures, corresponding reductions in the waiting list have been offset by significant increases in demand. As Deputy O'Sullivan said, the patient to whom he referred was identified over three years ago. The demand for referrals increased substantially. There was a 30% increase in additions to the spinal fusion surgery list in 2022 compared with 2018, and a 42% increase in 2023 compared with 2018.

At the end of December 2023, there were 231 children on the waiting for spinal procedures, excluding suspensions, which is a 5% reduction compared to the end of 2022. In 2023, there was a 13% reduction in the number of patients waiting longer than four months for surgery. Over 140 spinal procedures have been done so far this year. While waiting lists remain far too long, it is fair to acknowledge that there is an increase in the number of patients being treated, and there is progress towards the goal of having no child waiting more than four months for surgery, where clinically appropriate.

At the Minister's request, a dedicated paediatric spinal surgery management unit has been established in Children’s Health Ireland, which is focusing on delivering further improvements to the waiting lists.

The Minister recently allocated a further €1.34 million to enhance spinal services in CHI following a request from the clinical lead of the management unit. This includes additional clinical staff, additional Saturday outpatient clinics to reduce outpatient waiting lists, and additional capacity for MRI scans under general anaesthetic.

A dedicated stakeholder paediatric spinal task force has been convened with an independent chair. This task force will include all stakeholders, including patient representatives and clinicians. The Minister met some advocacy groups to discuss the terms of reference for the task force. The Minister for Health has appointed Mark Connaughton, SC, as chair, and Mr. Connaughton has since invited all advocacy groups to meet him.

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