David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

33. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children with complex orthopaedic conditions on waiting lists with Children's Health Ireland; his plans for making treatment abroad accessible for these children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39368/24]

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

The challenge facing our acute hospital waiting lists is well recognised, and both the Government and I have acknowledged that waiting lists are too long and many patients on those lists are waiting too long to receive the care they need.

According to the latest NTPF figures, there are 3,930 children on the Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) orthopaedic outpatient waiting list and there are 764 children waiting for an inpatient or daycase orthopaedic procedure, excluding scopes. These figures include both children with complex and non-complex needs.

Scoliosis and Spina Bifida were identified as a priority in both the 2022 and 2023 Waiting List Action Plans (WLAP). The aim of the WLAP is to ensure that patients have more timely access to high-quality scheduled care in our acute hospitals and will improve patient outcomes and patient experiences of our healthcare service. 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 my request, a dedicated Paediatric Spinal Surgery Management Unit was established earlier this year to focus on delivering improvements to the spinal 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 for children waiting on spinal surgery. 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.