The number of children’s spinal procedures carried out last year has “not greatly increased” when compared to 2022 despite new initiatives, minutes of a meeting of the taskforce on spinal care show.
On January 16th, the paediatric spinal taskforce held a meeting on the provision of care for children with scoliosis and spina bifida. Advocates, HSE representatives and Department of Health representatives were in attendance.
Minutes of the meeting showed a discussion arose about the level of spinal care activity in 2024 compared to 2022.
“Although there are new initiatives in place in 2024, the number of procedures has not greatly increased. One factor is that there are two less surgeons compared to 2022,” the minutes stated. “Productivity has increased and additional posts have been approved, including additional orthopaedic surgeons.”
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David Moore, head of the spinal surgery management unit in Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), told the meeting that capacity “continues to be maximised”.
However, he said some procedures over the Christmas period “had to be cancelled due to the lack of availability of ICU [intensive care] beds”.
Nine Saturday out-patient clinics were held last year, and Mr Moore said the additional clinics were “effective in reducing waiting time”.
In all, a record 513 spinal surgeries were carried out last year.
As of the end of last month, there were 228 patients on the waiting list for surgery, of whom 137 were ready and awaiting a date.
One of the surgeons who is no longer in post is paediatric orthopaedic consultant Connor Green, who went on voluntary leave in September 2023 after CHI referred him to the Irish Medical Council.
Last week, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) published a report on the implantation of non-medical grade metal springs into three children requiring spinal surgery.
The report said the use of the springs was “wrong” and the surgeon did not having ethical approval, managerial approval or the informed consent of parents for their use. A further two reviews into the provision of spinal care are continuing.
Following the publication of the Hiqa report, advocacy groups have called for a public inquiry into spinal care in CHI.
A CHI spokeswoman recently said the spinal surgery management unit “continues to work to reduce waiting times and improve access to spinal services for patients through various initiatives”.
“We aim to have a new consultant spinal surgeon in post in the summer, who will further bolster our efforts to reduce the waiting list for spinal surgery and the length of time that patients are waiting,” she said.
“Recruitment is also currently under way for a clinical nurse specialist, an advanced nurse practitioner in tissue viability and an occupational therapy specialist.”
