Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, ba mhaith liom an t-ábhar ar chlár an Rialtais a thógáil faoi do liosta feithimh. I ask about the reduction in waiting time for children suffering from scoliosis who are awaiting spinal fusion surgery and related appointments. The much-feted scoliosis action plan was abandoned early this year without even coming near to hitting its targets. The Scoliosis Advocacy Network has highlighted publicly that four-month surgery targets are not being met. It tells us that the theatre in Crumlin which is supposed to carry out these surgeries is only operating on a three-day week and outsourcing has stopped, although there are hundreds of children waiting for surgery for scoliosis in Ireland. We know that waits for first appointments for scoliosis are now running at two to three years. These waits are putting children at risk of deterioration, more complex procedures and poorer outcomes. When will we see a functional plan for scoliosis for 2018 with the necessary human and financial resources so that we can reduce these waiting lists and provide for these children and their families?

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