Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I first raised the issue of waiting times for scoliosis patients with the Minister's predecessor in September 2015. Since then, I have raised the matter consistently as the situation worsened to unprecedented levels. The co-founder of one advocacy group, who was featured in last night's RTE programme, told me, "There are children in Ireland who are being left on waiting lists for so long that doctors are travelling abroad to study their condition because their scoliosis has developed to an extent that is not seen in other countries." Doctors are coming from as far away as Africa to examine Irish children whose scoliosis has developed beyond what is seen elsewhere. That tells its own story.

In a response I received to a parliamentary question last week, the Minister stated that the children's hospital group has begun a process of engagement with advocacy groups on developing a partnership approach to the design and planning of services for children with scoliosis. Therefore, the Minister stated, an independent clinical review of scoliosis services is not required at this time. In light of last night's programme, will he now undertake to initiate such a review?

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