Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 April 2023
395. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason for delay in dealing with the waiting lists of children seeking procedures for scoliosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18857/23]
View answerI sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for scoliosis treatment and remain conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.
Last year I approved an ambitious plan from Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) 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.
This funding is providing additional theatre access at Temple Street and Crumlin, diagnostic MRI capacity and enabling further activity and paediatric theatre lists at Cappagh Hospital. The additional activity is targeted at reducing the number of children waiting long periods for orthopaedic procedures (including scoliosis and spina bifida). CHI and Cappagh Kids continue to work to explore new innovative ways of working and develop initiatives to support additional orthopaedic and scoliosis activity.
2022 saw a record number of scoliosis procedures carried out, 509 compared to 380 for the same period in 2019, a 34% increase and an increase of 47% compared to 2021. Despite the increase in the number of procedures, corresponding reductions in the waiting list were 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. The increased levels of activity have continued in 2023 with 125 procedures carried out to the end of March compared to 105 in the same period in 2022.
The 2023 Waiting List Action Plan was published on the 7th of March as the next stage of our new multi-annual approach to reducing and reforming hospital waiting lists and times. Funding of €363 million has been allocated to this Plan, which includes €123 million to be made available to the HSE on a recurring basis to progress longer-term reforms including to streamline and reconfigure care pathways and to sustainably enhance capacity – in particular for the priority areas of Paediatric Orthopaedics (Spina Bifida/Scoliosis), Gynaecology and Obesity/Bariatrics.
