Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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671. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for X-rays and MRIs in hospitals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13761/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE advise that a pilot project commenced in 2016 by the HSE Acute Hospitals Division to progress the collection of national radiology waiting list data. The project has been supported by the Radiology Clinical Care Programme and has involved key stakeholders across the system including the National Integrated Medical Imaging System (NIMIS) Team, Hospital Groups, and the support of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) for data collection and data management expertise

The NTPF has advised my Department that they do not currently record the personal data of any of the patients on the Diagnostics waiting list as the purpose of this aggregate data is to provide a National Level overview of the number of patients waiting for modalities of CT, MR and US. This report is not intended to be used for the active management of hospital diagnostics waiting lists- local reports and mechanisms should continue to be used for the management of diagnostics waiting lists at hospital level. For this reason, the NTPF are not able to identify the age category of patients on the Diagnostics waiting list.

The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the document attached, which sets out waiting list data for Quarter 1 2020 for CT, MRI and Ultrasound. The HSE advises that, at present, the X-ray scans requested by the Deputy are not yet captured as part of this project. In relation to the requested x-ray information, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

The information that is currently being collected is presently being tested and validated at hospital, hospital group and national level and as such should not be used/reported without the context of the caveats set out below:

- Data is subject to inclusions and exclusions which are documented in the Data Profile Document. This document is available from Acute Operations and has been circulated to all Hospital Groups.

- Data contains urgent, routine and surveillance/planned activity which is currently not broken down in detail, as such this includes surveillance/planned activity which may not be exceeding planned date.

- Data is still undergoing validation at Hospital and Hospital Group level.

- Data does not take into account local nuances at site level (Site profile developed to support understanding of same).

- The purpose of this aggregate data is to provide a National Level overview of the number of patients waiting for modalities of CT, MRI and Ultrasound.

- This report is not intended to be used for the active management of hospital diagnostics waiting list, local reports and mechanisms should continue to be used for the management of diagnostics waiting lists at hospital level.

In Q1 2020, there were a total of 190,373 patients reported on the waiting list from all sites for CT, MRI and Ultrasound, representing all outpatients waiting, urgent, semi urgent, routine and planned/surveillance (where diagnostic access is planned at particular time intervals).

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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672. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children suffering with scoliosis awaiting a procedure (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13762/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Improving access to scheduled care is a key commitment of government. In recent years there has been increased investment in paediatric orthopaedics and scoliosis services, which has improved access to surgery and outpatient appointments. In 2018 Children’s Health Ireland (CHI; previously the Children’s Hospital Group) was provided with an additional €9 million in funding to address paediatric orthopaedic waiting lists, including the provision of scoliosis services. As a result of this additional funding since 2018, CHI advise that there have been many improvements in paediatric scoliosis services, with increased activity and improved waiting times to access appointments and procedures.

CHI had advised my Department that they continue to develop sustainable solutions to reduce waiting times for children attending their orthopaedic and scoliosis services. The additional investment from the HSE in recent years and the implementation of the Scoliosis 10 Point Action Plan has increased orthopaedic activity levels across CHI. In addition, CHI has also advised my Department that a General Orthopaedic Surgeon, based at CHI Crumlin and Tallaght sites, is due to commence in Q3, 2020. This post is for general orthopaedic and trauma surgery, to support waiting list activity, and will further support waiting times for children for general orthopaedic outpatient appointments, including scoliosis.

My Department continues to engage with both CHI and the HSE in relation to paediatric scoliosis services.

In relation to the particular queries raised and the specific breakdown of information requested, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.