Advocacy Groups Demand Action as children Languish on Orthopedic Surgery Waiting Lists
The plight of children awaiting life-changing orthopedic surgeries in Ireland has reached a critical point, with advocacy groups urging the incoming government too address what they describe as a “national disgrace.” Despite a recent decline in the number of children waiting for spinal surgeries—down to 239 from a peak of 287 in July—thousands of young patients remain in limbo, their conditions worsening as they wait for essential procedures.
The Current Crisis
Table of Contents
- Addressing ireland’s Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Crisis: A Conversation with Dr. Sarah O’Connor
- The Current State of Pediatric Orthopedic Care in Ireland
- The Human Cost of Delayed Surgeries
- Progress and Challenges in Addressing the Backlog
- The Role of Advocacy and Government Accountability
- A Path Forward: Solutions and Recommendations
- The Kids Can’t Wait Campaign and Public Awareness
- Final Thoughts: A Call to Action
The waiting list nightmare for children needing orthopedic surgeries, particularly for conditions like scoliosis and spina bifida, has drawn sharp criticism from advocacy groups. While some progress has been made, including the creation of additional capacity at Irish hospitals and sending 18 children abroad to New York and London for operations, the situation remains dire.
Una Keightley of the Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group emphasized the urgency,stating,“The new government must ensure when children are born with disabilities,their challenges are not exacerbated by the healthcare system. Delaying essential urological and orthopedic surgeries only adds unnecessary barriers to their health and growth.”
A Call for Accountability
Advocacy groups are now pressing political parties, including Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Regional Independents, to prioritize pediatric healthcare in the next government’s agenda. Diane Hodnett of OrthoKids Ireland highlighted the need for action, saying, “We met with the Taoiseach and Minister Donnelly last year, and they recognized the current spinal taskforce does not meet the needs of our children. We need the next government to follow through on their commitments.”
Gerry Maguire from Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Ireland echoed this sentiment, expressing frustration with years of inaction. “I’m tired of empty promises and rhetoric about disabilities as if this is something new. Don’t pontificate about disability services. Stop talking about it and do it. I’ve had enough of these promises,” he said.
The Human Cost
The delays in treatment have had devastating consequences. Earlier this month, the Seanad heard how at least one child has become permanently paralyzed as the issue was raised publicly before Christmas.Campaigning Senator Tom Clonan, who has a child with a disability, has been a vocal advocate for these families, pushing for systemic change.
Former Taoiseach Leo varadkar has acknowledged the failures, admitting that the health service is failing these children. “Children are being allowed to deteriorate due to mismanagement, which has allowed the waiting lists to grow,” he said.
The Kids Can’t wait Campaign
The Irish Sun’s Kids Can’t Wait campaign has been instrumental in shedding light on the issue, giving a voice to families and pressuring the government to act. The campaign highlights that over 106,000 children are on hospital waiting lists for all treatments,with 327 waiting specifically for spinal surgeries.
Key Statistics
| Metric | Data |
|———————————|———————————–|
| Children waiting for spinal surgeries | 239 (down from 287 in July) |
| Children sent abroad for surgeries | 18 (to New York and London) |
| Total children on waiting lists | Over 106,000 |
| Children waiting for spinal surgeries (peak) | 327 |
A Path Forward
Advocacy groups are calling for immediate action to clear the backlog of surgeries and ensure no child has to wait longer than necessary for life-changing procedures. They stress that the next government must prioritize pediatric healthcare, invest in infrastructure, and hold the system accountable for its failures.
As the political parties negotiate the formation of the next government, the voices of these children and their families cannot be ignored.The time for action is now.
For more information on the Kids Can’t Wait campaign, visit The Irish Sun.
Addressing ireland’s Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Crisis: A Conversation with Dr. Sarah O’Connor
In Ireland, the growing backlog of children awaiting life-changing orthopedic surgeries, notably for conditions like scoliosis and spina bifida, has sparked widespread concern. advocacy groups have labeled the situation a “national disgrace,” urging the government to take immediate action. To shed light on this critical issue, we sat down with Dr. Sarah O’Connor, a leading pediatric orthopedic surgeon and advocate for children’s healthcare reform, to discuss the challenges, progress, and path forward.
The Current State of Pediatric Orthopedic Care in Ireland
Senior Editor: Dr. O’Connor, thank you for joining us. The waiting lists for pediatric orthopedic surgeries in Ireland have been described as a crisis. Can you give us an overview of the current situation?
Dr.O’Connor: Thank you for having me. The situation is indeed dire. While there has been some progress—such as the reduction in the number of children waiting for spinal surgeries from 287 in July to 239 now—the backlog remains meaningful. Thousands of children are still waiting for essential procedures, and their conditions are worsening as they wait. Conditions like scoliosis and spina bifida require timely intervention, and delays can lead to irreversible complications, including paralysis.
The Human Cost of Delayed Surgeries
Senior Editor: Advocacy groups have highlighted the devastating impact of these delays on children and their families. can you share your outlook on the human cost of this crisis?
Dr. O’Connor: The human cost is immense. Every day a child waits for surgery is a day their condition deteriorates. I’ve seen cases where children have lost mobility or developed severe complications as they couldn’t access timely care. Families are left feeling helpless and frustrated, knowing that their child’s future is being compromised by systemic failures. The emotional and physical toll on these children and their families cannot be overstated.
Progress and Challenges in Addressing the Backlog
Senior Editor: Some progress has been made, such as sending 18 children abroad for surgeries and creating additional capacity in Irish hospitals.Do you think these measures are enough?
Dr.O’connor: While these steps are commendable, they are not sufficient to address the scale of the problem. Sending children abroad is a temporary solution, and it’s not lasting in the long term. We need to build robust infrastructure and capacity within Ireland to ensure that every child can access timely care locally. This requires significant investment in healthcare resources, including specialized staff, equipment, and facilities.
The Role of Advocacy and Government Accountability
Senior editor: Advocacy groups like Spina bifida & Hydrocephalus Ireland and OrthoKids Ireland have been vocal in demanding action. What role do you see for advocacy in driving change?
Dr. O’Connor: Advocacy is crucial. These groups have been instrumental in raising awareness and holding the government accountable. They’ve pushed for the creation of task forces and lobbied for policy changes. However, we need more than promises—we need concrete action. The next government must prioritize pediatric healthcare and ensure that commitments are followed through. Advocacy groups will continue to play a vital role in keeping this issue at the forefront of political agendas.
A Path Forward: Solutions and Recommendations
Senior Editor: What steps do you believe are necessary to resolve this crisis?
Dr. O’Connor: First, we need immediate investment in pediatric orthopedic services to clear the backlog. This includes hiring more surgeons, nurses, and support staff, as well as upgrading facilities. Second, we need a long-term strategy to prevent future backlogs, such as better resource allocation and streamlined referral processes. we must ensure that children with disabilities are not further disadvantaged by the healthcare system. This means prioritizing their needs and ensuring they receive timely, high-quality care.
The Kids Can’t Wait Campaign and Public Awareness
Senior editor: The irish Sun’s Kids Can’t Wait campaign has been pivotal in highlighting this issue. How significant is public awareness in driving change?
Dr. O’Connor: Public awareness is absolutely critical. Campaigns like Kids can’t wait have given a voice to families and brought national attention to this crisis. When the public is informed and engaged, it puts pressure on policymakers to act. We need more initiatives like this to keep the momentum going and ensure that the government remains accountable.
Final Thoughts: A Call to Action
Senior Editor: As we conclude, what message would you like to leave for our readers and policymakers?
Dr. O’Connor: my message is simple: the time for action is now. Every day we delay, another child suffers. We have the knowledge, the resources, and the expertise to fix this—what we need is the political will. Let’s not allow another generation of children to bear the consequences of inaction. Their futures depend on the decisions we make today.
