Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

392. To ask the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a child to receive an appointment with a paediatric rheumatologist; the average waiting time between a child receiving an appointment and being examined by an paediatric rheumatologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42369/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for Rheumatology treatment, and I am conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families. 

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has advised my Department that during the initial phases of COVID-19, all face to face hospital outpatient reviews and most of the planned diagnostic tests, including MRI, were deferred in response to the pandemic.  CHI at Crumlin have recommenced the majority of outpatient and diagnostic services, albeit at reduced numbers, due to public health guidelines on social distancing.  Currently, Consultant Rheumatologists are seeing a number of patients in the outpatient suite including urgent patients and those who were deferred during the early phases of COVID-19.  

CHI has further advised that there is an active recruitment campaign for an additional Rheumatology Consultant underway. This addition to the medical staff will allow for an increased number of patients to be seen, diagnosed and treatment initiated, as part of the comprehensive Rheumatology service.

The attached table from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) waiting list figures, shows the number of children awaiting a first Rheumatology Outpatient appointment at CHI by time band at the end of October.

In relation to the average waiting time for a child to receive an appointment and be examined by a paediatric rheumatologist, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.

Children's Health Ireland Rheumatology Outpatient Waiting List October 2020