Temple Street Children's Hospital has cancelled scoliosis procedures scheduled to take place on children over the next three weeks.
The decision to delay procedures may affect over 30 children currently on waiting lists. The delays were attributed to workload pressures affecting hospital workers and services, according to Children’s Health Ireland.
Julie Ahern, director of legal policy for the Children’s Rights Alliance, told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that she was “deeply concerned” by the news and that more clarity was needed from Temple Street Hospital on the cancellations.
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She said: “We need to hear more about the reason for this delay. Families are being left in limbo. This could have long term effects on children’s mental health, wellbeing, and their ability to go to school."
The waiting list for child scoliosis patients has grown from 187 in November 2021 to 258 as of now, according to figures released by The Scoliosis Advocacy Network. One complex spinal surgery is scheduled each week at Temple Street, meaning three children will be immediately affected by the cancellations.
7-year-old Brianna is one of the children on the list for a spinal surgery. Her mother Caitriona told listeners that her daughter has been waiting on the procedure for over three years.
She said: “She’s finding it hard to push her wheelchair now and she’s getting pains in her shoulders. She’s tired all the time and it’s very upsetting. She needs this operation to be done so she can get her life back on track.”
Temple Street acknowledged the undue stress the move has caused for children and their parents awaiting procedures, adding that the “temporary pause” would be shortly reviewed. The Children’s Rights Alliance has called on Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to provide an explanation for the cancelled procedures.
Julie added that the government needed to look at its approach to children’s healthcare in a broader sense as a result of the news regarding the cancellations.
She added: “We know one of the biggest challenges affecting children’s healthcare is the long waiting lists for accessing treatment. We need government to look at their policies and services to make sure they can be delivered to children in a way that complies with their rights and makes sure they get the healthcare treatment they need as soon as possible.”
The HSE awarded €4 million worth of funding to the three national children’s hospitals for orthopaedic treatment back in February. The money was given in an attempt to solve the backlogs previously reported in spina bifida and scoliosis treatment.
Temple Street Children's Hospital told Dublin Live they would release a new statement addressing the delays shortly.
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