Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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142. To ask the Minister for Health if a scoliosis unit, or task force in relation to same, has been set up within the Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8123/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Firstly, I want to acknowledge that waiting lists for scoliosis and spina bifida services are unacceptably long. I am acutely conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.

I committed €19 million under the 2022 and 2023 Waiting List Action Plans to tackle these waiting lists. This investment has supported an increase in the number of spinal procedures undertaken in both 2022 and 2023, with 509 and 464 procedures carried out respectively, compared to 380 in 2019.

Progress is being made on the waiting lists for spinal procedures, despite the significant increase in demands and referrals compared to previous years. At the end of December 2023 there were 231 children on the waiting for spinal procedures (excluding suspensions), which is a 5% reduction compared to the end of 2022, and 78 active patients waiting over 4 months, which is a 13% reduction compared to the end of 2022. I had hoped, and expected, to see more significant reductions to the waiting lists given the funding that was allocated. However, despite undertaking a record number of spinal procedures over the last two years, the expected reductions in the waiting list were offset by a significant increase in demand and referrals compared to previous years.

At my request, a dedicated Paediatric Spinal Surgery Management Unit has been established in Children's Health Ireland and the Clinical Specialty Lead for Spinal Surgery commenced in post in January 2024. This Unit, which is coordinated cross-city, is focusing on the management and delivery of spinal surgery, including reform of the waiting lists. I have met the clinical lead who is now building up a team around him.

I also intend to convene a dedicated stakeholder taskforce for these services. I met with some patient advocacy groups on Monday 19 February, to discuss the terms of reference for this taskforce. The process of establishing this Taskforce is ongoing.

I will continue to drive progress on Scoliosis and Spina Bifida services as priority areas under the Waiting List Action Plan 2024.