David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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653. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children with scoliosis on waiting lists for procedures, including those on suspension or other lists, at the end of October 2022, by location in tabular form; the total number; and the number waiting 0-6, 6-12, 12-18 and 18+ months. [57769/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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654. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children with scoliosis on waiting lists for procedures, including those on suspension or other lists, at the end of each quarter in 2021 and to date in 2022, by location in tabular form; the total number; and the number waiting 0-6, 6-12, 12-18 and 18+ months. [57770/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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655. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children with scoliosis removed from waiting lists in each month of 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the number by reason for removal. [57771/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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656. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children with scoliosis removed from waiting lists without having a procedure in each month of 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [57772/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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657. To ask the Minister for Health the number of spinal fusion and other procedures carried out by Children’s Health Ireland for children with scoliosis in each year 2016 to date in 2022, by month at each location in tabular form; the number which have been outsourced; and the location at which they were conducted. [57773/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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658. To ask the Minister for Health the number of scoliosis-related procedures which were cancelled in each month in 2022 to date, by location in tabular form. [57774/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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660. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children with spina bifida on waiting lists for procedures, including those on suspension or other lists, at the end of October 2022, by location in tabular form; the total number; the number waiting 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months. and 18+ months. [57776/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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661. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children with spina bifida on waiting lists for procedures, including those on suspension or other lists, at the end of October 2022, by location in tabular form; the total number; the number waiting 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months and 18+ months. [57777/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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662. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children with spina bifida removed from waiting lists in each month of 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the number by reason for removal. [57778/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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663. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children with spina bifida removed from waiting lists without having a procedure in each month of 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [57779/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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664. To ask the Minister for Health the number of spinal fusion and other procedures carried out by Children’s Health Ireland for children with spina bifida in each year 2018 to date in 2022, by month at each location in tabular form; the number which have been outsourced; and the location at which they were conducted. [57780/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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665. To ask the Minister for Health the number of spina bifida-related procedures which were cancelled in each month to date in 2022, by location in tabular form. [57781/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 653 to 658, inclusive and 660 to 665, inclusive, together.

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

Earlier this year I approved an ambitious plan from Children’s Health Ireland to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures (scoliosis/spina bifida) by the year end. Some €19 million of current and capital funding was committed to implement the plan.

The funding is to provide additional activity targeted at reducing the number of children waiting long times for orthopaedic procedures (including scoliosis and spina bifida).

The funding has resulted in additional activity and a reduction in long waiters.

As of 28 October, 452 scoliosis procedures had been carried out, compared to 320 for the same period in 2019 a 41% increase and an increase of 55% compared to 2021.

Also at 28 October there were 54 patients waiting over 4 months for a spinal fusion compared to 65 in January a 17% reduction. In the same period there has been a 41% reduction in patients waiting over 4 months for other spinal procedures.

Despite undertaking a record number of spinal procedures and reducing the number of long waiters corresponding reductions in the waiting list have been offset by significant increase in demand and referrals compared to previous years with a 30% increase in additions to the spinal surgery list compared to 2021. CHI believes this is due to a loss of additional capacity elsewhere and latent Covid-19 demand via increased outpatient activity.

Recently due to an unprecedented increase in demand through ED’s and Urgent Care Centres and the resulting pressure on its hospitals capacity, CHI announced that it has had to reduce planned elective and routine inpatient admissions and this will continue over the winter period.

CHI has apologised to patients and their families whose children have had/may have to have their procedures postponed at short notice. It is making every effort to ensure its patients are looked after, will reschedule these admissions at the soonest possible opportunity, and will continue to communicate with the families directly.

The level of operational detail requested by the Deputy is not held by the Department and I have asked the HSE to provide it directly to him.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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659. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 114 of 21 September 2022, the number of children on waiting lists for scoliosis and spina bifida-related procedures and consultations by specialty for each month in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57775/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.