Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that the Government is attempting to ensure every possible measure is taken and examined to reduce spinal surgery waiting times in CHI at Crumlin and Temple Street. This includes exploring the transfer of a small number of patients with complex spinal surgery needs to appropriate skills centres in other countries. Perhaps the Minister will fill us in on what the timescale and actions for that are going forward. We have learned that our children are our future. It is important we have proper communication and information for families. Perhaps the Minister will come back to me on that. We must immediately address capacity through the implementation of the scoliosis and spina bifida action plan. It is not enough to tell parents who are watching their children suffer that approximately 257 surgeries took place last year.

These are children, human beings, who are being left untreated and not looked after by our healthcare system. Parents are tired and burnt out and still have to fight. I believe the system is failing. We need to address that and make changes to the system. The proposed review is not enough. It is not wide enough. The parents and patients have to be listened to more. For too long, they have been unheard. They are not being adequately considered. Not only are their children being left on really long waiting lists, but they are also not being supported locally to ensure the best life possible while waiting. I recently met with some families. I see this in my own constituency. There is no occupational therapy or speech and language therapy available. People are waiting on access to child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. Children's disability network teams are not fully in place. There are only a certain number out there and we need a lot more. Parents come to me and they are watching their children get worse. In some cases, children's scoliosis is worsening by as much as 10° while they wait. Families I have spoken to are at breaking point. They really are. The Minister of State will be well aware that some families have to go to crowdfunding for help. Families need support. This is a new thing they have now. We have to listen to these families.

There is another question I want to ask the Minister of State. An additional operating theatre is opening at Children's Health Ireland, CHI, at Temple Street this week, on 29 September. What staffing is in place? What about the aftercare team and the step-down service? Additional medical and nursing staff, health and social care professionals and administrative staff to support capacity are being sought. That is welcome but how many posts have been filled? Will the theatre be at full capacity when it opens? Is it 100% certain that it will open on 29 September?

I really believe the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, are fully committed to sorting this, as is the Government. Children who need this operation are in a horrific situation and they should not be left waiting. The staff work extremely hard. Nurses, doctors and other staff get attached to children too. They see children waiting for this operation when they should not be. This needs to be sorted now. We need to do all we can. The parents and patients have to be listened to. Communication and information are going to be the key here. We all need to work together to make sure this is sorted now and that we get this done as quickly as possible. All of us must work together and do our best to support the families going through this with their children.

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