AN INVESTIGATION INTO a teenager who was on a waiting list for five years for a spinal fusion surgery has been described as “devastating” by the Children’s Ombudsman.
The OCO highlighted the long waiting lists for spinal fusion surgery, that previous governments worked to decrease, and the poor communication between hospitals and parents of the patients. Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane said today that the report from the OCO “lays bare the painful reality of broken promises for children with scoliosis”.
The CHI said there are currently 29 children in Temple Street Children’s Hospital on waiting lists for spinal fusion surgery. This figure is of June 2023, with the CHI saying it is aware of “lengthy waiting times for some of these surgeries”.The paediatric health operators said it is “fully committed to maintaining the highest possible levels of quality care, access to services, and open communications for the children and young people” that it cares for.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, who was answering Leaders’ Questions today, said that it was “heartbreaking” to see children waiting on spinal surgeries. “It is something we will need to continue to build on and ensure this absolutely essential service [...] can be availed of,” Cairns said that the families who are impacted by these waiting lists have heard the same promises before.