Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

-----on the basis of second opinions while two will be followed up with outpatient appointments in Crumlin. In fairness to the HSE and the hospitals, the staff nurses and medical consultants have a tremendous record of service to children. Anyone who is familiar with scoliosis will know how difficult it is to deal with and one has to get it right. Orthopaedic operations have to have a high level of success although that does not refer to the situation with Sophie which the Deputy said arose from a cancellation. I assure the Deputy that, in resourcing the HSE and individual hospitals and departments dealing with these issues, a concerted effort is under way to deal with children and teenagers who have been waiting a long time. As the Deputy said, this affects their whole lives.

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