Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to thank Deputy Andrews for raising this issue and for giving me the opportunity to provide the House with an update on scoliosis services for children on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly.

I sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for treatment for scoliosis and I am conscious of the burden this places on them and their families. This Government's priority is to improve waiting times for all patients accessing hospital treatment across all specialties, including orthopaedics. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Children's Health Ireland, CHI, had to take measures to defer most scheduled care activity between March and May of this year. This decision was in line with the advice issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, in accordance with the advice of the World Health Organization. Since June, CHI has continued to re-establish services, following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols to ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically aligned and prioritised way. CHI has advised my Department that spinal surgery continues to be identified as a service priority.

I note that infection prevention and control requirements such as social distancing of 2 m have a material impact on the physical space available for the delivery of all hospital services, including scoliosis procedures. This has had a significant impact on both available capacity and operational activity levels. Despite these challenges, by the end of October CHI had carried out 255 scoliosis procedures, 123 of which were spinal fusions and 132 of which were other spinal procedures. While this is 20% behind activity levels for the same period last year, CHI is committed to improving activity levels and is examining innovative methods to improve access to all specialties, including orthopaedics. For example, CHI is working with the Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital to transfer additional patients who meet the clinical criteria for treatment at Cappagh. CHI is also working with the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, to source additional theatre space to facilitate both scoliosis and wider orthopaedic demands.

In relation to the individual case referred to by the Deputy, section 6 of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. Officials in my Department remain in regular contact with CHI regarding scoliosis services. CHI has advised that all patients with a diagnosis of scoliosis require a pre-operative work-up prior to spinal surgery, including multiple diagnostic investigations and review by a multidisciplinary team. The plan of care implemented for each patient is tailored to best meet the patient's clinical requirements.

I am aware that parliamentary questions and public representations have been made to the Minister and the Department in respect of the specific patient referred to by the Deputy. CHI has advised my Department that the hospital is in ongoing contact with the family of the patient in relation to their surgery.

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