Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are making the same case with regard to CHI and spinal surgeries. I am simply making the point that surgeons have to respond to the investment that this Government and this House has put into the services. I expect them to do that.

On CHI and the hip dysplasia, it is a matter for CHI to give that number and to be able to confirm that. I will use every power I have to make sure they do that. I will request they publish that number and there is no reason not to. By way of caveat, I do understand that the reason for the numbers going back to 2010, which I gave to the Deputy in reply to a parliamentary question, is that any follow-up requirement relates to skeletal maturity, which is typically around 15 years of age. This is a clinically based decision as opposed to any other set of criteria. It is really important that CHI confirms the number of letters it has sent. It is not just CHI, it is also Cappagh hospital. They are two different numbers. I expect CHI to provide that and that the HSE would have provided that by now. I expect this information to be clear but I do expect it will continue to evolve. The most important thing is that we get the report, which will stand us all in much better stead on the next steps we must appropriately take.

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