Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy. There is an audit going on into equity of access on waiting list management. I expect to have that audit at the end of November. I will have to wait until then to confirm any figures. At the end of August this year, there were 135 patients on the CHI spinal active waiting list, compared with 150 in August 2024. That is a reduction of 10%. Outpatient lists are also down, with a 45% reduction in the number of new spinal outpatients waiting on an appointment. While I recognise this progress, there is an awful lot more work to do to drive improvements in spinal services. I have met with families and advocacy groups, and it is important to listen to them.

The Deputy is more than aware that €30 million was allocated to reduce waiting lists in different areas. There is a ringfenced theatre providing dedicated capacity. There are additional outpatient clinics, in particular this year on Saturdays, which have seen over 800 additional patients, and which has reduced the waiting list for initial assessments. We are trying to maximise capacity through national and international outsourcing. As I said earlier, which I appreciate the Deputy was not here for, there is an awful lot more work to do there. I am trying to explore additional options.

Activity has increased with 342 spinal procedures completed so far this year, compared with 304 for the same period last year. This is a 13% increase, but at the same time we are seeing a growing need for those services. There are 370 spinal patients who have been added to the CHI active waiting list, which is a 10% increase compared with last year. While some of this reflects faster outpatient access and better referral pathways, we are also trying to do further analysis to understand some of the source of that demand, which is really important. The services remain an absolutely top priority and I will do everything I can to actively drive progress to address the challenges children face.

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