Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)

Yesterday, I spoke to Louise Collins in Tralee, County Kerry. She is mother to 14-year-old Daniel, who suffers from severe scoliosis and has 95% curvature to his spine. The Taoiseach might have been alerted to the article about the family in The Irish Times today. In the 14 months since Daniel was told he needed surgery, his surgeon in Crumlin has not been able to offer him a single date, not even a missed or potential date. That flies in the face of everything we have been told would be put in place for such children. I cannot square in my head how, in February of this year, when 132 scoliosis patients were waiting for surgery, there were only 47 planned procedures. Flying to London or New York will not be possible for all the children. Crucially, we know the three CHI hospitals will have to scale back their theatre activity next winter to transition to the new hospital building. My question for the Minister for Health and the Taoiseach is this: will CHI be able to live up to its commitment to provide surgery within the four months? Will Daniel get the surgery? Crucially, why has the HSE not put anything with regard to scoliosis in the waiting plan for this year?

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