Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I acknowledge the work of the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who, since she became Minister for Health, has been proactive in tackling many pre-existing inefficiencies in the health system. It is also important that I acknowledge and recognise the very hard-working staff within our hospital system. None of what I am saying is a slight on those dedicated and committed members of the hospital network, the HSE or CHI.

It has been apparent since Deputy Carroll MacNeill became Minister for Health that she is actively driving multiple efforts to address the challenges that have been ongoing in relation to paediatric spinal surgery waiting lists. I know from conversations we have shared that the Minister met with the HSE and the CHI board and executive in August and September, and that she was very clear in ensuring that everything possible must be done to reduce the amount of time children are waiting for procedures. I am heartened to know that further meetings will be taking place and are scheduled.

At the end of October, 68% of patients on the active waiting list were waiting less than six months, which marks an improvement from this time last year, when 56% of patients were waiting less than six months. However, any time a child is waiting for spinal surgery is too long and, therefore, I have to share the following example with the Minister.

A young child in my constituency has been recommended for surgery for over two years. They had pre-operation appointments in early 2024 and 2025. They were offered surgery abroad and were due to travel to New York for spinal fusion last March. However, the child's parents were then advised by the medical team that surgery in Ireland was in the patient's best interests. The family was assured that surgery could be and would be completed by summer 2025 because the child is only ten years old and was, therefore, classed as a priority case. In June, the family was informed that before spinal fusion could take place, additional surgery was also needed, even though this was first identified by MRI in 2019. That is a wait of six years before the surgery happened. I am happy to report that the surgery was successfully performed on 1 July, and by August, the child in question was ready for spinal fusion. A date for surgery was confirmed for last week, that is, not the end of summer 2025, but in November. Unfortunately, four days prior to that surgery date, the surgery was cancelled. That was due to an emergency case, which I can appreciate, but no further plans or details were given to the parents. We can imagine the feeling in the family at that time, and the child asking, “Why am I not an emergency case? I have been waiting so long.”

Children and parents like the ones I have just spoken about are at their wits’ end. I appeal to the Minister to keep up the drive that she has brought to this role and to ensure her ambition is carried through. I understand it is a challenge, and I recognise the work she has done up to this stage. The children of Ireland need that drastic change to happen at speed so they can access the treatment they so desperately need. The prolonged waiting needs to stop.

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