John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me the opportunity to raise a distressing case. It concerns a constituent of mine, the parent of a young boy who was in touch with me. She has a very young family, all aged under seven years. One of her sons, who is aged five, has had ongoing problems with his tonsils since he was approximately two years of age. He has missed a lot of school and when his tonsils are very sore he gets sick constantly, which can go on for between one and three days depending on the severity of the illness.

For a number of years his mother was told a viral infection was to blame, but some weeks ago a family doctor suggested that her son's tonsils needed to be removed. To cut a long story short, she was advised that paying a private ear, nose and throat specialist in a private hospital would speed things up. A tonsil checkup for two of her children cost €350.

I have been informed that the specialist suggested that the tonsils need to be removed and that it would cost approximately €3,000 to have the procedure undertaken privately; otherwise, her son would go on a waiting list. The family does not have €3,000. The waiting list in Tallaght hospital is at least one year. The principal of the local school wrote to me and the local hospital to outline the fact that the child has missed a lot of school due to sickness related to tonsillitis. The child is falling behind in school and she is extremely concerned about him. She has other children aged under 7 to care for.

I have been in touch with Tallaght Hospital and have received correspondence from its chief executive about the patient. The CEO acknowledged the facts around the case in terms of the waiting time. He said a referral letter for the patient was received and reviewed on 13 April and that the referral was triaged as routine. The current waiting time for a routine referral in the hospital is 17 months. The hospital has recognised that this is an unacceptable length of time for anyone to wait for an appointment. On top of this, the hospital is the only paediatric hospital on the south side of Dublin that is accepting routine ear, nose and throat referrals. Demand for paediatric ear, nose and throat services has increased by 51% over the past two years. Things will only get worse, not just for this child but for many others.

The CEO confirmed that he has raised this issue with the HSE and, in fairness, a new paediatric ear, nose and throat consultant was approved, but the successful candidate withdrew from the recruitment process and the job is being re-advertised. In addition to there being no locum available for this position, the paediatric sessions from a recent consultant retirement also remain unfilled. The CEO stated that the children's hospital group has approached the HSE to seek support for an ear, nose and throat waiting list initiative with the private sector and is awaiting a response.

In conclusion, the CEO said the hospital cannot at this time offer the patient an appointment date, and the hospital apologised for that.

I have a few questions for the Minister. Under the supply and confidence arrangement between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, it was agreed that the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, would be reinstated. Does the issue I raised come under the remit of the NTPF? The CEO has approached the HSE to seek support for a waiting list initiative in that regard. Tallaght hospital is part of the Dublin Midlands hospital group. Is there any alternative hospital at which the parent in question can seek to get treatment for her son? It is a shame the Minister cannot be here, but I accept that he is unable to be present. What is his response to the issue and what advice can I, as the local Deputy, give to the distressed parent whose child may have to wait another 17 months, which I am sure the Minister of State will agree is completely unacceptable?

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