John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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174. To ask the Minister for Health the progress to date in relation to Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin waiting list for a first appointment with a paediatric orthopaedic consultant; the measures that have been taken to ensure no child is at risk while waiting for their first consultation with an orthopaedic consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2425/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the amalgamation of wait lists for paediatric scoliosis across the Children's Hospital Group; when this will occur to ensure equity of access to all children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2426/18]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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178. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for 2018 with regard to children that are waiting on scoliosis surgery and procedures [2429/18]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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180. To ask the Minister for Health the HSE surgery target wait time for children that are clinically listed for scoliosis surgery as of 1 January 2018 [2431/18]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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181. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether it is acceptable to enter 2018 with no agreed surgical criteria for scoliosis surgery and no agreed plan [2432/18]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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182. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the dropping of the four month scoliosis surgery wait targets for 2018 (details supplied) [2433/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 175, 178 and 180 to 182, inclusive, together.

I continue to support the HSE in its efforts to bring down the waiting times for and improve access to scoliosis services. Waiting list numbers on the scoliosis active waiting list dropped from 312 patients in February 2017 to 156 by 31 December 2017. This is as a result of the concerted efforts of staff and clinicians across the treating hospitals, HSE and Children's Hospital Group to increase activity within our children's hospitals, the Mater and Cappagh hospitals as well as of outsourcing initiatives developed by the HSE. 371 surgeries took place in 2017 across all treating hospitals both home and abroad, including two hospitals which were successful in an international tender run by the HSE for paediatric spinal fusion procedures. Of these 371 procedures, 28 were outsourced to Germany and the UK with a further 22 patients declining surgery abroad.

A Paediatric Scoliosis Services Co-Design group is in place, which includes clinicians, hospital staff and representatives from the scoliosis advocacy groups, to design a comprehensive contemporary and patient-centred approach to the delivery of scoliosis services.

€9 million investment funding has been allocated for 2018 to the HSE for the development of paediatric orthopaedic services including scoliosis. The 2018 Service Plan includes a commitment from the HSE to continue to improve access to paediatric orthopaedics, including surgery for scoliosis, in conjunction with the Children’s Hospital Group to achieve clinically appropriate waiting times. This will be underpinned by the development of a standardised pathway of care for children and adolescents with scoliosis which will be evidence-based and patient-centred. Further development of Scoliosis services will be guided by the recommendations emerging from the work of the Co-Design Group. The Co-Design Group is also working towards publishing agreed criteria for surgery which are based on clinical grounds and national and international best practice.

The HSE has confirmed that the 4-month target for accessing surgery for scoliosis will be maintained into 2018 and beyond.