Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane TD, has called for greater urgency in securing access to spinal treatment abroad for those children who can travel, and in developing public capacity in the state.

Teachta Cullinane welcomed the announcement that treatment abroad would recommence, saying that it has taken a year for the health service to put these agreements in place. He said a clear plan to deliver comprehensive, public, and fully domestic services is now needed.

Teachta Cullinane said:

“The most important thing for children with complex, life-altering spinal conditions is that they are treated urgently, quickly, and preferably in Ireland. Where they cannot be seen on time in Ireland, it is only right that treatment abroad is arranged.

“I welcome the announcement today that treatment abroad will recommence for these children who need it and who can still travel. Delays have led to lost opportunities and more difficult conditions for many children. Today’s announcement shows that this option was always possible and should have been put in place much sooner.

“The government inexplicably allowed the treatment abroad scheme to end in 2019. We have sought its reinstatement and it is very frustrating that it has taken the Minister a year to put these schemes back in place.

“The slow pace of delivery from this Minister is part of the problem across the health service. There is a lack of urgency in delivering timely access to care for children. The health service has not been able to deliver on the four-month commitment made by Simon Harris when he was Minister for Health, and there is no confidence in the government’s ability to deliver a fully domestic, public system for caring for our children.

“A clear plan to deliver comprehensive, public, and fully domestic services is now needed. This must include the families and advocates of the hundreds of children on waiting lists. It must look at the extremely long waiting times for urgently needed spinal and other orthopaedic surgeries for children. The Taoiseach made a commitment to meet with advocates and to discuss their concerns, but he has not done this yet. He must honour that commitment.”