James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter around the ongoing delays in scoliosis surgeries. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this extremely important issue. The Government sincerely regrets that children like Leah can experience long waiting times for scoliosis treatment and it remains conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.

Last year the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, approved an ambitious plan from Children’s Health Ireland to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures, whether scoliosis or spina bifida, by the year end, with significant current and capital funding committed to implement the plan. This funding is providing additional theatre access at Temple Street and Crumlin, diagnostic MRI capacity, and enabling further activity and paediatric theatre lists at Cappagh hospital, also known as Cappagh Kids.

The additional activity is targeted at reducing the number of children waiting long periods for orthopaedic procedures, including scoliosis and spina bifida. We did make progress. In 2022, 47% more scoliosis procedures were carried out than in 2021. If we compare to pre-pandemic levels, this represents a 34% increase.

Despite undertaking a record number of spinal procedures in 2022, corresponding reductions in the waiting list were offset by significant increases in demand and referrals compared to previous years, with a 30% increase in additions to the spinal surgery list compared with 2021. Whilst the growth in referrals is stabilising in 2023, this latent Covid-19 demand has resulted in increased outpatient activity.

The HSE and CHI have developed a plan for 2023 to continue and build on the work done in 2022. Additional funding supported the recruitment of additional staff to enable the expansion of paediatric orthopaedic services. The posts related to the multidisciplinary team: at diagnosis, pre-assessment, during surgery in-theatre, and post operatively. The posts included a number of grades and specialties, including registrars, consultants, radiographers, clinical nurse managers, staff nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and associated administrative posts. Recruitment and retention of staff remain priorities to ensure reductions in waiting lists for scoliosis treatment.

In 2023 to the end of June, CHI and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh have completed 219 spinal procedures. The figure includes 101 spinal fusion surgeries, as well as 118 other spinal procedures, and represents 89% of the projected activity to the end of June, and 46% of the targeted activity for the full year 2023. To the end of June, Cappagh has completed 311 non-complex orthopaedic surgeries and 13 surgeries for spina bifida patients transferred from CHI. These figures respectively represent 52% and 33% of targeted activity for the full year 2023.

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 which is implemented for each patient is tailored to best meet the patient’s clinical requirements. The complexity of a child’s total medical condition dictates the level of planning and pre-operative work and time needed.

This Government is committed to building on progress achieved to date to reduce waiting times for children like Leah awaiting scoliosis treatment.

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