Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1290. To ask the Minister for Health the number of scoliosis surgeries carried out at Crumlin Children's Hospital in 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [15934/20]

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 query raised and the specific breakdown of information requested, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.