Children waiting over four months will be able to travel for spinal surgery abroad in 2025

It is expected that 557 spinal procedures will be carried out across Children's Health Ireland and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh by the end of the year — an increase of 93 on 2023. Picture: Dmytro Lukiian / Alamy Stock

Any child waiting more than four months for spinal surgery will be able to travel abroad for treatment in the new year.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is to update his Cabinet colleagues on measures that will allow children to access procedures overseas if it is clinically suitable to them to travel.