Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Anybody who has experienced scoliosis, who has family members or friends who suffer from it or who knows someone who suffers from it will be aware that it is a very difficult condition. The impact of it is obvious when one considers that it affects growing children. I am not familiar with the details of the particular case highlighted by Deputy Keaveney. I will ask the Minister for Health to ask for a report from the HSE on the subject. I apologise for any error that has been made by the HSE. I hope the HSE will have apologised for any such error as well. I hope any error has not had too severe an impact on Sophie and her family.

In a general sense, people who are familiar with scoliosis may know that it has been the subject of a significant expansion of resources in our health system. It is important that we acknowledge that the provision being made for the number of cases to be treated has pretty much doubled in the lifetime of the Government. Treatment is now available in many different locations, some of which have seen increased capacity, including Blackrock Clinic, Cappagh hospital, which is a dedicated orthopaedic hospital, and Temple Street children's hospital. As we speak, the construction of a new theatre at Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin is under way. This will provide additional resources for dealing with this difficult condition. Two additional orthopaedic consultants have been appointed at University Hospital Galway.

This particular disease, which has a stronger presence in Ireland than in many other countries, has received significant attention. There has been a doubling of resources and an increase in the number of locations where patients are treated. In addition to dealing with cases in Blackrock, Temple Street and Crumlin, we are also now referring a number of cases to the UK Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore near London. This is a mechanism for dealing as quickly as possible with the cases on the list, particularly those presenting great complexity and those involving patients who may have one or more conditions in addition to scoliosis. As medical technology develops, the capacity to deal with more complex cases is improving. I assure the Deputy that the HSE, the Minister for Health and the Department of Health are allocating significant additional resources. Treatment is being provided at a number of locations in the country and, for the first time, in Stanmore near London. I hope the families and individuals who are suffering from this condition will understand that we intend to provide a greatly expanded and enhanced level of treatment. We are doing that by doubling the resources and providing orthopaedic treatment in some of the premier institutions in Ireland.

See this speech in context