Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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1140. To ask the Minister for Health his views in regard to the fact that a person (details supplied) has been told by the Mater Hospital that they will have to wait 16 months for laser eye surgery, particularly in view of Government statements regarding the commitment to reduce waiting times for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24943/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The scheduling of appointments is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient’s general practitioner consider the patient’s condition warrants and earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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1141. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting over a year for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24966/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Scoliosis affects approximately 1% of children and adolescents in Ireland. The management of scoliosis is complex and is determined by the severity of the curvature and skeletal maturity.

Long waiting times for scoliosis surgery are not acceptable, and my Department has been working closely with the HSE to address services pressures, particularly in Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin (OLCHC), which is the largest provider of scoliosis surgery for children and young people. Additional funding of €1.042m was allocated under the 2015 Service Plan to increase capacity at OLCHC, and an additional orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist, and support staff, are now in place with recruitment of a further additional orthopaedic surgeon underway. Capital funding was also provided for a new theatre on site to expand theatre capacity further, and this is currently being commissioned. The Children's Hospital Group is proactively working on nurse recruitment to support the opening of the new theatre.

The recently announced €40 million additional funding for the HSE Winter Initiative 2016/2017 also includes €2m provided specifically for scoliosis patients to treat 39 adolescent patients on the Tallaght waiting list and an additional 15 to 20 paediatric patients by year end. My Department will continue to work with the HSE and the relevant hospitals to ensure improvements in access to spinal surgery.

The scheduling of appointments is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. In relation to the specific case raised, as this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.