Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not have the figure for how many people have been offered surgery abroad but I will get it for the Deputy quickly. I want to re-emphasise that the CHG advises that clinical criteria for determining a care plan for scoliosis-related surgeries and other spinal procedures is complex, which we appreciate, and is based on established clinical guidelines and best practice, both nationally and internationally. These are decisions being made by good surgeons who are operating in our health service.

I am confident that the hospital Group will meet the target for procedures. They did 224 in 2016. The Deputy may have asked me the same question last year, when they reached 371, and now they will build on that again to reach 446. Not only has there been additional recruitment of consultants but Cappagh hospital is also doing more work. It is envisaged that the hospital will complete 50 paediatric spinal surgeries in 2018, against a target of 39 for this year. That is a good example of increasing capacity for scoliosis surgeries in Ireland, which we need to do. This year the CHG aims to deliver 446 procedures, which represents an increase in activity of 99.5% on 2016. We have a lot more to do but we are making progress.

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