Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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367. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to double the capacity at Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin to facilitate up to 120 patients to be treated for spinal deformity each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36671/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 387 together.

Scoliosis in children and young people is managed predominantly at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin (OLCHC). The hospital has an agreed capacity to carry out 58 full spinal cases per year as part of its annual Service Level Agreement with the HSE. Children requiring repeat procedures and rod lengthenings are excluded from this number, meaning that a total of 147 spinal procedures were carried out in 2013. The HSE has informed me that a total of 68 full spinal surgeries were undertaken in 2013 (10 more than funded).

There has been an increase in the number of OPD referrals of spinal cases, resulting in increased conversion to surgical cases and projected growth in clinical demands. Measures to address these demands are being considered as part of the estimates process and in the context of overall service needs.