Dáil debates

Wednesday, 13 October 2021

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions

 

12:10 pm

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy raising the issue of Adam Terry. Quite frankly, I do not think this is good enough. I do not think any child should have to wait so long to get vital surgery of this type. It is complex surgery, but that is no excuse. Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children should not be the answer, although sometimes it is necessary for children to go there. In my view, this reflects a systemic failure. I have spoken to the Minister for Health and my office has been in touch with the HSE. I will not give any false dawns today. I just want to see the surgery happen. It needs to happen, and it needs to happen in a very timely manner. It is our responsibility as the Government to make sure that other children, and the Deputy mentioned Senan, get access to surgery in a timely manner, not just for scoliosis but also other conditions. I am committed, as Taoiseach, not just to putting pressure on the system but also to ascertain why these situations continue to occur.

We all are familiar with stories about scoliosis over the past six or seven years. Additional resources have been provided and so forth. I have a couple of pages with me outlining what has been done, but I will not go through that with the Deputy. I want to see Adam go back to school and see him mix with his friends. We will do whatever we have to do. The consultants want to help as well in this situation. That is what I am saying to the Deputy. It reflects systemically. It is not a question of resources as the resources are in place. We must ensure elective surgery is ring-fenced from anything that occurs on the trauma side in terms of both theatre capacity and consultant capacity, so that it is not the case that the person or child gets a date, arrives for the operation, and the surgery is postponed because something else has happened.

I do not disagree with the Deputy. I hear Adam's question, through him, loud and clear. I spoke this morning to the parents and I will keep on this case, even though legislation dating from 2013, in some ways and for some reason, tells Ministers they can advocate for but they cannot direct. It was passed by this House in 2013, which is interesting with regard to the governance of the HSE. I believe individual cases reflect the faults of systems and processes and we should have that capacity as public representatives. The individual case can shine a light on a broader systemic problem. It is just not good enough and I want it resolved, not just for Adam but also for other children.

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