Government’s frustration with delays ‘cannot be exaggerated’, says Donnelly to CHI chairman – The Irish Times

The government’s level of frustration with waiting times for children requiring orthopedic surgery cannot be overstated, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has told the board of Children’s Health Ireland (CHI).

In a letter sent in August to CHI, which runs three pediatric hospitals in Dublin, Donnelly said there had been a significant improvement in CHI’s “level of commitment, determination and determination to reform governance in this area”.

But the minister told board chairman Jim Browne that “it is unacceptable that more progress has not been made sooner.”

“I cannot overstate the level of frustration within the government,” he said.

The Fianna Fáil TD said he wanted to have a more detailed discussion “on this topic” after receiving the HSE audit report he had requested on the use of funds given to CHI for children’s surgeries.

Mr Donnelly and the Government have been heavily criticized by the Opposition for some time over delays in carrying out surgeries for children on waiting lists at CHI.

During the weekend’s ardfheis at her event, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was a “scandal” that children with scoliosis and spina bifida suffered and waited years for surgery.

“In 2017, (then Health Secretary) Simon Harris made a promise to these children. He broke that promise. So there is no more procrastination,” she said. “These children need to get the care they need now.”

A few months ago, Donnelly said that in 2022, CHI told him that this would ensure that no child would have to wait longer than four months for spinal surgery, including scoliosis surgery, by the end of this year. He said he then committed €19 million specifically to reducing waiting times and improving spine and orthopedic services.

However, in July the minister told the Seanad that the funding had not been used in the way he intended and waiting lists remained “unacceptably long, placing a huge burden on children and young people themselves, as well as their families”.

As of last April, there were 251 children on the waiting list for spine surgery, according to CHI.

“Based on engagement with advocacy groups, I have asked the HSE’s internal audit department to review the allocation of €19 million for spine and orthopedic services to ensure maximum benefit from this investment,” Donnelly said.

“I am waiting for the final report of this review. However, it is clear from initial discussions that the majority of this funding, earmarked for spine services, has been distributed much more broadly across Children’s Health Ireland.”

Donnelly told Browne in his letter that the government hopes to send some patients to the United States for surgery, and he has visited many of the hospitals there that are expected to take part in the initiative. The minister said he was chairing monthly meetings aimed at “ensuring the implementation of a comprehensive care model and accelerating progress.”