Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, for coming in to take the matter. I ask him to outline the up-to-date position on the provision of urological services for children who have spina bifida and hydrocephalus and, in particular, if arrangements have been made for a consultant paediatric urologist to travel from the United Kingdom on a monthly basis to provide the necessary clinical support in Ireland. The issue arises from the fact that there is only one paediatric urologist in Crumlin hospital. Children attending Temple Street Hospital do not have the services of a urologist and this consultant attends only for children with spina bifida in extreme cases. The paediatric urologist consultant in Cork reviews children in the south west region and is not in a position to see any Temple Street patients in the interim.

All children with spina bifida have a continence issue as a result of the condition but are being denied an important service which can assist in improving their quality of life. Children with spina bifida are in a high risk category for irreversible kidney damage which, in time, can lead to end-stage renal failure and, possibly, death if not monitored on an ongoing basis. As I understand it, the job was advertised and one applicant was interested but subsequently decided not to take the post. It appears that it will be difficult to fill the post as it is a very specialist area and it was suggested that we would engage the services of a UK-based consultant who would attend here on a regular basis to provide the service to these children. It is an important issue which needs to be dealt with.