Families of children suffering from severe paediatric spinal disorders such as scoliosis are being given the choice of treatment in large UK and New York hospitals, in a bid by the Department of Health to significantly decrease the amount of patients waiting over four months for surgeries.
Stephen Donnelly, Health Minister, plans to inform the Cabinet on Tuesday that by the end of 2024, the count of patients waiting over four months on the active list will decrease to 20, a significant reduction from the 86 recorded at the beginning of the year.
Detailed projections on actions to reduce those awaiting urgently needed treatment will be presented to the Cabinet by Mr. Donnelly.
In addition, on Tuesday, it is expected that the Government will authorise the start of drafting the Occupied Territories Bill. This law will prohibit goods or services linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories from being used in Ireland.
A proposal for a review that might create a “legal pathway forward” will be put forward to the Cabinet by Micheál Martin, Minister for Foreign Affairs. Although, Mr. Martin declared on Monday that it’s improbable the Bill will be drafted prior to the general election.
Despite a surge in surgical list add-ons because of a notable increase in outpatient clinics, reductions in surgical waiting times for scoliosis surgery are being achieved, Mr. Donnelly is anticipated to report. He will also underline new initiatives focused on alleviating the backlog and enabling quicker access to healthcare for children.
Treatment provisions for patients are now extending to locations abroad, including Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York, Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and Portland Hospital in the UK.
As of September 2024, there are already 20 patients confirmed for treatment overseas, with some already having undergone surgery.
All children going abroad will receive an inclusive support package that accommodates air travel (business class for the child and an accompanying adult, with provision for an additional adult), lodging, travel insurance and coverage for expenditures.
The projected number of operations to be performed by Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh in 2024 is 557, an increase of 93 from 2023. Furthermore, measures are also in progress at Blackrock Clinic and the Mater hospital.
The Minister is anticipated to inform his cabinet peers about the prolonged wait times some children are experiencing for care. However, assurances will be given that any child clinically suitable, remaining on the active waiting list for over four months following Christmas will be offered treatment abroad, subject to consultation with their respective clinicians. He added that CHI had reassured him that the hiring of extra surgeons and staff would ensure sufficient surgical capacity to meet future service requirements once the current backlog is resolved.
The substantial delay times children with extreme spinal conditions face while waiting for life-altering surgeries has long been a subject of political debate.
Former Health Minister in 2017, Simon Harris, had pledged that no child would be waiting over four months for spinal surgery, a goal which was not reached.
In 2022, Mr Donnelly allocated €19 million to guarantee that no child would wait over four months. However, it was later revealed that not every penny of the CHI’s funds were put towards reducing wait times, with a portion of it directed to other areas.