James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

The Minister has said that great savings can be made by amalgamating the three hospitals, or by providing for greater co-operation between them. It is important to point out that in September 2007, representatives of Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin asked for a meeting with HSE officials on this matter. The prospect of a meeting being arranged as part of this debate did not re-emerge until recently. On a previous occasion, the Minister argued that €4 million could be saved on blood products. However, Our Lady's Children's Hospital spends an average of just €6 million on blood products each year. It returns all unused blood product to St. James's Hospital, where it is used. Our Lady's Children's Hospital is not reimbursed for that blood. That shows that the Minister's argument is fallacious. The comparisons she previously made with a hospital in Birmingham are equally null and void. How many children are waiting for scoliosis surgery? As the Minister knows, the longer they are left without surgery, the more operations they will need and the more disabilities they will suffer. How many children have had scoliosis treatment under the National Treatment Purchase Fund? How many of them will get such treatment? How many children have had scoliosis surgery under the fund this year? How many more operations are planned before the end of the year? How many children are on the waiting list at Crumlin?

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