Just under 1,000 children are on a waiting list to see a respiratory consultant at Temple Street Children’s hospital with over 500 waiting more than a year, new figures have revealed.
The figures have been slammed as “shocking” by Opposition TDs.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said he “sincerely regrets'” children are experiencing a long time for treatment.
Figures given to Fianna Fail TD Paul McAuliffe show 176 children are waiting 0-6 months; 127 are waiting 6-12 months; 119 are waiting 12-18 months.
And a staggering 529 young children are on a waiting list to see a respiratory consultant for more than 18 months.
Social Democrats co-leader and health spokeswoman Roisin Shortall said the waiting period can have a huge impact on children’s lives.
She said: “These figures are shocking and an indictment of the Minister and the HSE. However difficult things are in the health service, children must be prioritised.
“Respiratory problems in children can have a huge impact on their childhood and their welfare by having to go on frequent courses of antibiotics, having to attend ED and missing school.
“It is especially reprehensible that almost 650 children are waiting over a year to see a consultant.
“Time lost from childhood can never be replaced.”
Sinn Fein’s health spokesman David Cullinane said parents of children are long past hearing about expressions of regret from Ministers and the Government needs to tackle the vacant consultant posts.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, he said: “Wait times across health care are far too long.
“We need a fit for purpose workforce plan to train, recruit and retain more graduates and specialists.
“We have over 700 consultant posts not filled on a permanent basis with over half vacant. “We need to address the two tier pay issues which exist and substantially ratchet up training places.
“Parents of children and patients generally are long past hearing about expressions of regret from Ministers.
“They want urgent action and a clear plan on how to increase capacity and reduce wait times and not short term waiting list plans from the Minister which ignore the real causes of long wait times.”
Minister Donnelly said Covid-19 has impacted waiting times for scheduled appointments but that the HSE has confirmed to his Department that “patient safety” remains at the centre of hospital activity.
In response to a parliamentary question from Mr McAuliffe, he said: “I sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for treatment, and I remain conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.
“One of the central priorities for me as Minister for Health is that waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures are improved, and that children receive the care that they need and deserve in a timely and appropriate fashion.
“It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Omicron variants.
“The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling.
“To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.”
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