Written answers

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

Department of Health

Paediatric Services

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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813. To ask the Minister for Health the status of progress for the recruitment of a third paediatric rheumatologist, which was promised for 2019 in the context of children waiting up to three years to see a paediatric rheumatologist; the status of reducing waiting times for paediatric rheumatology and MRI scans for children with Down's syndrome associated arthritis to not more than 12 weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44905/20]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has advised the 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. From June onwards, CHI at Crumlin had recommenced the majority of outpatient and diagnostic services, albeit at reduced numbers, due to public health guidelines on social distancing. However, due to the recent rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the community and the need to reduce the number of people coming into the children’s hospitals, CHI will be prioritising emergency, urgent and time sensitive procedures and care. In so far as possible, most out-patient clinics will be moved to virtual or telephone clinics, unless specified by the consultant that a face to face review is needed.

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

In relation to the provision of MRI services, the demand for specialist imaging has increased over recent years due to increased activity and acuity in CHI, as well as an increasing trend to utilise imaging in diagnosis and treatment. CHI have advised that, uniquely to Paediatrics, younger children and children up to 18 years old with complex needs may be unable to remain still in an MRI for the lengthy periods required to complete the scan, resulting in the requirement for a General Anaesthetic (GA) to be delivered by a Paediatric Anaesthesiologist. This limits the ability for these scans to be performed outside of CHI hospitals. CHI have confirmed to my Department that each request for an MRI scan is carefully examined by Consultant Radiologists who must prioritise, based on clinical urgency, each case in terms of access to the scanner.

CHI has advised that patients with Down Syndrome who present to Rheumatology services with suspicion of arthritis are clinically assessed and diagnosed by the clinical team. A cohort of these patients will require an MRI scan based on the individualised clinical examination and recommendation.

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