Wait for children's outpatient spinal appointments down to under four months

The average wait time for children’s outpatient spinal appointments has dropped to just under four months, marking a significant improvement from 7.4 months a year ago. According to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), 99.5% of patients now wait less than a year for an appointment, and those waiting longer than that have received specific dates for their procedures. The reduction in wait times comes amid efforts to address long-standing delays in treating childhood scoliosis and related conditions. Since January, 229 new cases have been added to the spinal surgery waiting list, while 279 procedures have been performed during the same period. This means more surgeries have been conducted than new patients added to the list, indicating improved capacity. At the end of July, 431 patients were on the outpatient department waiting list, a decrease of over 22.6% compared to the same point last year. Meanwhile, the number of children awaiting spinal surgery has fallen to 199, down from 231 at this time last year. CHI attributes the improved performance to increased capacity, including the introduction of weekend clinics. These additional resources have helped shorten wait times and ensure timely access to care. Dave Moore, head of the Spinal Surgery Management Unit at CHI, explained that patient prioritization considers several factors, such as the severity of the condition, the size of the spinal deformity, and whether the child has other medical issues. Age and the remaining potential for growth are also taken into account when determining the order of treatment. Despite these improvements, some challenges persist. As of July, 104 children still needed pre-operative assessments before they could be scheduled for surgery. Of these, 12 have received surgery dates, while 36 have already undergone procedures and are awaiting follow-up care. Some patients require multiple interventions, which further complicates scheduling. Additionally, seven children are waiting between 12 and 15 months, two between 18 and 24 months, and one between 24 and 36 months for their operation. In 2017, then-health minister Simon Harris pledged that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis surgery. However, this goal remained unmet for years, leading to public criticism and calls for better oversight. In response, the Health Service Executive (HSE) began arranging overseas treatments for children whose wait times exceeded acceptable limits. Since 2024, 19 patients have been treated abroad, helping to alleviate pressure on domestic services. CHI continues to work toward achieving a target of 540 spinal surgeries by the end of 2026. While this figure represents a key milestone, the organization emphasizes that its primary objective is to minimize waiting times for patients. Lucy Nugent, CHI chief executive, noted that the latest data reflects ongoing progress in delivering timely care to children requiring spinal intervention. Recent developments have also sparked controversy among some families and advocacy groups. A scoping exercise aimed at launching a statutory inquiry into how CHI manages care for children with scoliosis, spina bifida, and hip dysplasia is currently underway. However, two major organizations, the Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group and the Scoliosis Advocacy Network, have withdrawn from the initiative, citing concerns over transparency and accessibility of information. They argue that critical documents related to CHI’s practices have not been shared with families. Health Minister Jennifer MacNeill has stated that no individual or group should take priority over another in the inquiry process. She emphasized that the focus remains on ensuring equitable care for all children. Despite the withdrawal of some advocacy groups, the inquiry is expected to proceed, with an invitation extended to all stakeholders to participate.