Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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56. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the scoliosis waiting list targets were missed; the steps he is taking to address the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40780/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE is actively implementing the action plan they developed to ensure that no child will be waiting over 4 months by year end and are focussed on maximising all available capacity both internally and externally to achieve this target.

Additional nurses are now in post in both Crumlin and Temple Street. An additional consultant orthopaedic surgeon commenced in Crumlin in early September. Up to 22 September the two children's hospitals have already exceeded the number of surgeries undertaken in the whole of last year. Since February 2017, patients are also being transferred for treatment to the Mater, Cappagh, and Stanmore in the UK. To date, 23 surgeries have been completed in these hospitals.

The HSE has completed an international tender for paediatric spinal fusion procedures and three hospitals have been successful. These hospitals will commence patient reviews immediately with a view to commencing treatment in October 2017 for patients whose families take up the offer of having procedures carried out in overseas hospitals.