Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's comprehensive statement on patient safety concerns and the review of paediatric orthopaedic surgery services. All too often, elected representatives are the final line of hope for parents and families who are anxiously trying to get surgery for their children. Unfortunately, recent events have greatly undermined belief in the service and, for parents and families, have triggered further unnecessary harrowing worries.

I acknowledge the Minister's many achievements in a short time in office, and I appreciate that in the past three years he has invested significant funding to help clinicians to reduce the amount of time children must wait for important hospital appointments and procedures. Scoliosis and spina bifida have been included as priority areas for funding in both the 2022 and 2023 waiting list action plans. Both conditions entail harrowing diagnoses and curtail the life expectancy and quality of life of many of our young people.

In recent days, I have spoken to the mother of a young County Longford boy who was scheduled for preoperative treatment in August. Unfortunately, this did not proceed as the consultant raised concerns over the child's heart. The family is now in limbo and uncertain whether the procedure will proceed at Cappagh. I will contact the Minister directly about this case and ask him to follow up and help the young lad. He recently started secondary school. He is a young boy full of hope and excitement about the new chapter in his life. His mother says she has never seen him as happy. I appeal to the Minister to ensure that we do not fail him and the other children awaiting surgery. As has often been the case, unfortunately, it seems it is our children and the most vulnerable who suffer most when the health service and HSE get it wrong.

I ask the Minister to consider a case I have raised in recent weeks. It relates to the nurse position at St. Christopher's Special School, Longford. The post is approved for just 14 hours per week to cover 40 pupils, many of whom have pronounced medical needs. Several of the children are PEG fed. The school has sought approval for a 32-hour post and has struggled to get it from the management of the local community health organisation, CHO. It is a high-risk scenario, putting our most vulnerable at risk. I ask that the Minister ensure, at a time of rampant investment in the health sector, that the local CHO put in place immediately the necessary funding for a 32-hour nursing post at St. Christopher's Special School, Longford.

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