Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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76. To ask the Minister for Health his views on waiting lists for children with scoliosis needing surgery; if new targets will be forthcoming for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16976/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The long-term strategy to develop sustainable scoliosis services from 2018 has been prioritised by the Department of Health and the HSE in the 2018 HSE National Service Plan.

€9 million funding has been provided in 2018 to improve access to paediatric orthopaedic services including scoliosis. The 2018 HSE National 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.

The HSE, in their Service Plan, has also committed to the development of a service for young adults with scoliosis in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, and Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital for patients transferring from paediatric services.

In addition, 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.

It is estimated that in 2018 the Children's Hospital Group will carry out 196 spinal fusions and that 51 procedures will be outsourced. This activity will ensure that by the end of 2018 there will be no patient waiting over the 4-month administrative target (where clinically appropriate).