Tom Clonan (Independent)

I will use my time. I thank the Chair.

Where is the urgency? Children are becoming inoperable on the scoliosis waiting list. Insourcing and clinics are being made available in places such as Blackrock Clinic. I know from talking to parents that the decision and triage are not based on clinical need but on whether an operation or a number of procedures can be done on a Saturday. The more complex cases are being left on the public waiting list and are becoming inoperable.

I do not have enough time to go through the letter, but I have letters from parents in front of me describing how their child's upper spine has now autofused and is no longer operable. Children are becoming infertile and incontinent unnecessarily. Children's upper spines are becoming autofused and are becoming inoperable. This is happening now. We have been highlighting this for a number of years. The board of CHI used the resources of companies such as Q4 Public Relations to spin and do its crisis communications. Does the HSE think the positions of board members are tenable at this point?

Finally, the Health (Scoliosis Treatment Services) Bill will go through all Stages in the Seanad this evening. The Government indicated that it will not oppose it. It will make it legally mandatory for the HSE to treat our scoliosis patients within the therapeutic timeframe. This is now coming to a head.

I will finish up on this. I am sorry about the length of time but there is so much to communicate. One parent came into me yesterday. She is a medical professional whose child has been impacted by neurological and spinal issues. She said to me that she does not want any more apologies. She said she does not want any more people like me saying how awful everything is. She said she wants an action plan. My final question is: based on the legislation that Senator McDowell and the Independent Group are tabling for tonight, is Mr. Gloster will get to grips with this, because CHI is not going to do this? It is incorrigible and recidivist. That is quite clear. Dr. Henry or the chief financial officer could also answer. What would that look like? How can we deal with these cohorts of kids and get them sorted? We have only had two surgeries in Great Ormond Street Hospital, even though we have been talking about this for a couple of years now. I think 14 have gone to the United States. How do we solve this problem? What would that action plan look like?