Press release: Child Specific Waiting Lists will give a true picture of the impact that delays are having on childhood

The introduction of Child Specific Waiting Lists for acute hospitals confirmed by the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly is very much to be welcomed. This measure will give a true picture of the impact that delays in accessing services are having on children in Ireland, and will help those creating policy or working in the health sector to address the specific needs of children.

 

The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon said: “In March 2017, the Ombudsman for Children’s Office published Waiting for Scoliosis Treatment; A Children’s Rights Issue and one of the recommendations of that report was the introduction of Child Specific Waiting Lists.

 

“Although it has taken some time to deliver on this recommendation, I commend the Department of Health and the National Treatment Purchased Fund who have persevered and worked together to make this happen.

 

“Waiting for Scoliosis Treatment; A Children’s Rights Issue came about as a result of complaints made to our office about ongoing delays and the failure, by Government, to adequately address the issue of access to Scoliosis treatment for children. Children with scoliosis were denied their right to the highest attainable standard of health, and were suffering severe physical and psychological effects due to their age and stage of development.

 

“Minister Donnelly has informed me that Child Specific Waiting Lists will be published according to acute hospital waiting lists for outpatient appointments, and inpatient/daycase procedures on a monthly basis and that the information will be available at National level, by hospital, and by specialty.

 

“I know that there are still children with scoliosis waiting for long periods of time to access treatment. There are also more children suffering with other illnesses or conditions, and I hope that the availability of this information will make a difference for them.

 

“When we published Waiting for Scoliosis Treatment; A Children’s Rights Issue, we heard from young people about their experiences of waiting for treatment, and their words still ring true. One child told us: ‘My operation could have been much simpler and better. I wouldn’t have been out of school for months…if they had done it a year earlier I would have been left with just a tiny scar on the middle of my back, less pain, less time recovering and have more movement in my back now.”

 

“I very much welcome the introduction of Child Specific Waiting Lists. Now it is vital that the information available is used to ensure that we can minimise the pain and suffering experienced by so many children, and that we can protect as much of their childhoods as possible.”

 

ENDS

 

Note to Editors

 

Access Waiting for Scoliosis Treatment; A Children’s Rights Issue here: https://www.oco.ie/app/uploads/2017/03/Waiting-for-Scoliosis-Final.pdf

Access an update published by the OCO on what has changed for children with scoliosis here: https://www.oco.ie/app/uploads/2018/08/OCO-What-has-Changed-for-Children-Waiting-for-Scoliosis-Treatment-A-children%E2%80%99s-rights-Issue-2018.pdf

 

• 17 May 2021
• Type: Press Release
• Topic: Health