Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil for raising this matter. I am taking this debate and matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. Deputy Ó Cearúil will appreciate that I cannot talk about individual cases before the Chamber. Obviously, if the Deputy has questions in relation to individuals, they can be raised directly with the Department of Health. I acknowledge the case he has highlighted, however. While I cannot specifically talk about it, I acknowledge how difficult it has been for the family. I welcome the fact that the procedure has now been scheduled. It should not have had to come to this, and I appreciate that. I acknowledge that he has raised it, but I cannot speak about individual cases.

It is acknowledged that acute hospital waiting lists are too long, and many patients are waiting an unacceptably long time for care. The Government is focused on having a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it. Since the commencement of the waiting list action plan approach in September 2021, significant progress has been made in reducing both the number of patients on waiting lists and the length of time they are waiting. In relation to the Deputy’s particular query on paediatric hip surgery waiting lists in north Kildare, I can advise that the National Treatment Purchase Fund. NTPF, does not publish data on subspecialties. Therefore, I will refer to the orthopaedic waiting list, within which hip surgeries are a subspeciality.

According to the NTPF, the total outpatient waiting list for orthopaedics in CHI was 3,406 at the end of August 2025. This compares to a total of 3,930 waiting at the same time last year. This is a 13% decrease. Additionally, the inpatient and day case waiting list for orthopaedics in CHI reduced from 764 in August 2024 to 671 in August 2025. This is a 12% reduction. Further, the percentage of inpatient and day care patients within the Sláintecare targets was 27.3% at the end of August 2025. This is compared to 22.1% at the same time last year.

I can also advise the Deputy that for Kildare specifically, the number of children waiting for inpatient and day case paediatric orthopaedic procedures in CHI has reduced from 58 in August 2024 to 46 in August 2025. This is a 20% decrease. This highlights that the waiting lists are trending in the right direction. I acknowledge the case he has raised on behalf of his constituents, however.

Further developments to these lists are under way, including the migration of the specialty to a central referral system. The NTPF has advised the Department of Health that it has approved both outpatient and inpatient and day case initiatives for orthopaedics, which will facilitate treatment for patients on these waiting lists in Children’s Health Ireland.

As the Deputy is aware, the final report of the developmental dysplasia of the hip audit was published on Friday, 23 May. The Minister’s immediate priority following the publication of the Thomas audit was to ensure there was clinical follow-up and care for patients who had undergone pelvic osteotomy surgery. All patients and families were sent a letter from CHI and the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Cappagh about the next steps that will apply to them and their child, and how they can get further information or support. As of Tuesday, 23 September, a total of 196 patients have had clinical reviews as part of the multidisciplinary team clinics.

In relation to retrospective reviews of cases to determine the indications for surgery, the HSE is establishing a separate process involving external experts. It is expected that the panel will be established in the coming weeks and that the review of individual cases will commence in January 2026. The recently established HSE CHI improvement steering group is overseeing the progress of these reviews. This group was established by the HSE CEO in recognition of the need to co-ordinate oversight of a range of matters of focus in CHI in a cohesive fashion. This group most recently met on 29 September 2025, and senior officials from the Department of Health attend these meetings. The improvement of waiting times and particularly waiting times experienced by children and young people remains a priority for the Minister for Health. The Minister is committed to ensure that reform remains centred around putting the child and their family at the very heart of our paediatric services.

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