Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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103. To ask the Minister for Health the reason children are on waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery at the children's hospital, Dublin 12; the number of children waiting over nine months for surgery for spinal curvature; the number waiting over six months and the number waiting over three months. [42755/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Scoliosis in children and young people is predominantly managed at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin. 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 Health Service Executive. A total of 68 full spinal surgeries were carried out in 2013 (10 more than funded). In total, 147 spinal procedures were carried out in 2013; this included children requiring repeat procedures and rod lengthening as well as full spinal surgeries.

There has been an increase in the number of outpatient department referrals of spinal review, and a consequent increase in surgical demands. Currently there are 140 patients waiting over 13 weeks for various procedures including spinal assessment, cast change, full spinal surgery, insertion of growing rods and lengthening of growing rods. Of these, 103 patients are waiting over six months and of these in turn, 79 are waiting over nine months. In addition to the above active waiting list numbers there are also 31 patients that have planned dates that also fit within the above mentioned categories.

The Children's Hospital Group has advised that it is working to identify a comprehensive plan for utilisation of all orthopaedic resources across Tallaght and Crumlin to address trauma and other orthopaedic surgery, as well as spinal services. The resource requirements to address service needs are being considered in the 2015 Service Planning process which is currently under way.