Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

What Deputy McDonald is suggesting now goes against a clearly laid out plan in regard to the scoliosis initiative in the paediatric services. In 2015, 100 scoliosis surgeries were carried out, including 67 at Crumlin. A further 33 of those on the Crumlin waiting list were treated in other hospitals. This is a 51% increase on the number of such surgeries carried out in 2014. Some 39 additional patients from the Crumlin waiting list were transferred either to the Blackrock Clinic or to Stanmore in the UK, some for treatment in the next few weeks. We have also increased capacity for the longer-term, including additional theatre capacity and additional staffing, and the necessary funding has been allocated. The funding and the staffing side provides for two consultant orthopaedic surgeons, an anaesthetist and support staff at Crumlin. As I said, Crumlin is the major hospital in Ireland for treating children with scoliosis. Temple Street does about 22 a year and those treatments are being prioritised.

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