Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1057. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children currently on the waiting list for operations in relation to scoliosis in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin; the number of these procedures that took place in 2016; if he will provide a timeframe for a person (details supplied) who is waiting for this procedure to be carried out in Our Lady's Children's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41773/16]

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 €1.042 million 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 under way. 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 HSE Winter Initiative 2016-2017, published on 9 September, also includes €2 million provided specifically for scoliosis patients. 78 scoliosis patients were reviewed under this initiative. To date, 54 have been treated and four have received appointments for treatment in February, due to clinical age restrictions for procedures.

I recently met with a number of scoliosis advocacy groups to discuss their concerns and my Department will continue to work with the HSE and the relevant hospitals to ensure improvements in access to spinal surgery.

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