Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Scoliosis patients have a certain window in which they can be treated before treatment becomes too physically, mentally and emotionally distressing. Scoliosis is a painful and disabling condition that impacts the child and the family. Sophie Redmond is 11 years old and has scoliosis. She also has issues with her knee ligaments. I was lucky enough to meet Sophie yesterday, along with her little brother, Tyler, her father, Eric, and her mother, Sam. Sophie is like a little unicorn, bringing smiles and colour wherever she goes. Recovery from any operation to straighten the spine will require walking. However, because of Sophie's knee ligament issue she will need to have a knee operation first, which will take time to recover from. It is vital that Sophie's knees are operated on so that she will be ready for the time-sensitive scoliosis operation.

Sophie cannot cross the street unattended because of the fear that her knees might buckle, causing her to fall in the middle of the road. As a result of health system failures her spine is pressing into her lungs and pelvis. She has difficulty breathing as a result. Sophie is an 11 year old in a rapid growth phase. How bad will the Government let Sophie get? Will she be permanently physically and mentally damaged? No one can say that Sophie's condition is not impacting negatively on her mental health. Children with scoliosis cannot thrive while they are in discomfort and pain. This is a time when they are young and developing and should be thriving. An 11 year old should be physically active and enjoying the outdoors. Sophie does not want to do physical exercise because of her condition and she increasingly lacks confidence. Her confidence is taking a beating and she is constantly afraid of hurting herself.

Sophie is living in fear. She and her family are prisoners of the public health system which has failed her. The surgeries Sophie requires must be carried out in a children's hospital, as she needs specialised paediatric equipment and admittance to a children's intensive care unit, ICU. Sophie will be left crippled. If this happens, it will be on the heads of this Government and this Minister. Covid-19 cannot be used as an excuse. The Minister for Health clearly stated that he was ashamed of the waiting list for scoliosis patients. In 2018, the then Minister for Health said that no child would be on a scoliosis waiting list for more than four months.

Is the Minister of State ashamed that children like Sophie and other scoliosis patients have to wait so long for their surgery? Sophie is not a unique case. There are so many children like her waiting on scoliosis surgery. Care cannot wait and scoliosis waiting lists are unacceptable. Will the Minister of State clearly say what she will do to ensure that scoliosis sufferers like Sophie have the treatment they urgently need?

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