Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as cead a thabhairt dom an t-ábhar an-tábhachtach seo a phlé ar an Athló anocht.

The issue I raise is the lack of a paediatric urologist and general lack of paediatric urology services in the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street. There is a vacancy in the hospital for a consultant urologist. Urologists perform a variety of functions but the specific group I have in mind are children with spina bifida. Children and adults with this condition experience serious problems with many of their internal organs and kidney failure is often the cause of death in people with spina bifida. Only this year, a friend of mine with the condition went to his eternal reward and, as such, I am well aware of many of the problems experienced by children and adults with spina bifida.

The case I raise involves a mother in County Meath with a young child who is unable to have routine tests carried out on her child's kidneys as a result of the lack of a paediatric urologist. I understand it is essential that people with spina bifida have regular standard checks done. These include blood tests for kidney function, renal ultrasound, DMSA scans, bladder function assessments and a number of more infrequent tests such as video urodynamic studies and spinal MRI tests. This type of routine monitoring of patients is not available for young children because of the lack of urologists in the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, which deals with spina bifida. The position is so bad it is not even possible to see a consultant privately because the country lacks the necessary facilities.

I ask the Minister of State to indicate when a paediatric consultant urologist will be appointed to the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street. People need to be given hope that they will not find it necessary to travel abroad for routine medical treatment and monitoring. I look forward to a positive response.