Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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51. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting scoliosis surgery; the measures that have been taken to ensure timely treatment for these children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39279/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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 of current and capital funding to tackle these waiting lists by creating additional capacity. There was an increase in the number of spinal procedures carried out in 2022 and 2023, compared to 2019. The expected reduction in the waiting lists were offset by increases in demand and referrals compared to previous years. These services remain priority areas under the 2024 Waiting List Action Plan.

At the end of July 2024, there were 287 children on the inpatient waiting list for spinal procedures. This includes 44 who are on a suspended waiting list.

At my request, a dedicated Paediatric Spinal Surgery Management Unit was established earlier this year to focus on delivering improvements to the waiting lists. This Unit is working on improving capacity within CHI, expanding national outsourcing, and looking to maximise the international support.

A number of international outsourcing initiatives have been finalised. Children have been seen by clinicians from Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York, Great Ormond Street Hospital London and Portland Hospital in the UK.

I have also convened a dedicated stakeholder Paediatric Spinal Taskforce to collaboratively address concerns raised by families and advocacy groups.

I am chairing monthly meetings with the HSE and CHI to ensure that everything that can be done is being done.