Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Martin for his question. I, no more than the Minister, found it difficult to watch this programme, and the stories of Betty and Pat, and Peter and Kate and Patricia, and Elaine and John and Alan, and Kira and Darragh and Megan speak for themselves. This is 2017 and nobody wants to see a situation like this.

A perception that there was an attempt to cover up figures is not true. Since the National Treatment Purchase Fund started in 2002, this was always the way, according to best international standards at that time, that these figures were presented. Patients would get a call to say they would have an operation or a treatment. Those who have had one treatment but need a second were never counted on this figures. Irrespective of that, it does nothing for the parents of children who have curvature of the spine, which Deputy Martin mentioned. This is a serious issue, and Deputy Martin raised it in that spirit.

The €2 million that was provided in 2016-2017 specifically for surgery for scoliosis has meant that 133 spinal fusion treatments for scoliosis have been conducted in 2016 for children under the age of 16 years and adolescents between the ages of 16 and 18 years, of which 44 were outsourced to the independent or private sector or the UK under the HSE winter initiative funding.

Deputy Martin himself has been through this. During the previous Minister for Health's time, the big question about scoliosis was whether we had the theatre capacity. A sum of €3 million was found and invested in a theatre specifically for this purpose in Crumlin and it is still not open. The Minister is meeting the chief executive later today, as well as the NTPF and the HSE. He wants to make it clear that the scoliosis issue is an absolute priority, that he will do more and that he will refer again to the question of the private sector to assist with this. The opening of a brand new theatre is dependent on the recruitment of adequately trained staff and exceptional efforts are being made to recruit staff who are qualified to do this work. This is an issue the Minister was upset about.

In respect to the situation that applies generally, €900 million more has gone into the health system this year than last year. It is now €14.5 billion. The strategy of health reform is correct in the decision in respect of the National Maternity Hospital, the decision in respect of the national children's hospital, the provision of primary care centres throughout the country and the reduction in the waiting list for routine colonoscopies by 90%. These are all improvements in the health service which both of themselves and in respect of the staff who deliver them are also to be commended. However, this is not something that we can stand over.

I found it difficult to watch the programme but it is very necessary that these programmes and patients' stories in 2017 be heard. I would point out that the function of the Minister for Health, on behalf of Government, is to set the overall policy and strategy and to provide funding within what can be provided, that is, €14.5 billion or €900 million more than last year. Those charged with delivering the services differ in their opinions. I heard opinions today about bringing in business people. I heard opinions today about doing a lot of small things together.

There were also other opinions. None of them deals with the issue of the child who is waiting for scoliosis treatment. Today the Minister, in seeking a whole-of-Government response, will examine what it takes to open a theatre which the taxpayer paid €3 million for but which is not open and was designed specifically for dealing with children with scoliosis.

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