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

In 2017, the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, declared that no child would wait more than four months for surgery. In August of this year, the Tánaiste said he wanted Ireland to be the best country in Europe in which to be a child. Those comments ring hollow for children with spina bifida and scoliosis. Courtney Manning, a disability advocate, was supposed to be having surgery this week. She now has no consultant, plan or answers. Courtney only has stress and pain. The Government clearly has no urgency and no plan. Sophie Redmond, who is now 14, went through multiple surgeries to address her chronic back pain. It seems that Sophie is not one of the 19 but she and her family and families like them want, deserve and need answers. They must be wondering whether they can trust the system. That is a crucial aspect of all this. Trust has been lost by the Government. That is why the terms of reference need to be expanded beyond the current narrow focus. These parents are worried beyond belief and they cannot be left in limbo. They need answers as soon as possible.

There are 314 children currently waiting on spinal surgery. That is up six on the last report and it is climbing steadily. In the context of meeting with parents, it is not good enough to take an approach of squeezing them in this Friday. Parents must be included in setting the terms of reference for the next review. The families must be at the centre of deciding on the terms of reference. The terms of reference must be widened and parents must have confidence. Parents and families must be at the front of the bus. Deputy Durkan referred to the need to give families hope. We need to give them more than that. We need to give them action and a commitment that they can trust the system, it will get them out of their pain and we will deliver a genuine health service that works for children and young people, rather than leaving them in pain, which is what is happening now.

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