Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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141. To ask the Minister for Health the status of plans to tackle the waiting times for assessment and treatment for children with scoliosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43557/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The development of a sustainable scoliosis service has been prioritised by my Department and the HSE in 2018. An additional €9 million was provided to the Children’s Hospital Group in 2018, to support the development and implementation of a sustainable and safe paediatric orthopaedic service for children and young people.

The increased investment in scoliosis has brought stability to the service and the current capacity for services has expanded. The Children’s Hospital Group advises that 446 procedures will be delivered this year, compared to 371 in 2017, and 224 in 2016. This represents a doubling of activity since 2016.

Waiting list figures for 12 October show 130 patients waiting; this includes patients who have been asked to come in for a procedure, those who have been given a date for a procedure in the near future, and those who are waiting for a date for a procedure. This represents a reduction of 61, or 32%, in comparison to the same week last year, when the list stood at 191 patients.

The Children’s Hospital Group advises that the clinical criteria for determining a care plan for scoliosis related surgeries and other spinal procedures is complex and is based on established clinical guidelines and best practice both nationally and internationally.