More children added to spinal surgery waiting lists than treated, says CHI report

Head of the Spinal Surgery Management Unit, David Moore, said they expect to have an additional consultant spinal surgeon by the summer. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie

Pressures continue on the spinal surgery service at Children's Health Ireland, with about 50 new children listed for spinal surgery procedures every month. 

An activity report, published on Friday, shows that 123 surgeries were carried out in the first three months of this year.

However, 144 additional spinal procedures were added to the waiting list following outpatient assessment during January to the end of March.

A spokeswoman said "approximately 50" new patients every month are listed for a spinal surgery procedure from outpatient clinics. Others might need monitoring, a spinal brace or a spinal cast, for example.

In all, there are 288 children on the waiting lists now, including 137 who are ready for surgery and waiting for a date.

The average waiting time for non-complex patients is four months.

CHI is currently validating complex case waiting time data and did not supply this data.

Head of the Spinal Surgery Management Unit, David Moore, said they expect to have an additional consultant spinal surgeon by the summer.

This will help, he said, “to reduce the waiting list for spinal surgery and the length of time that patients are waiting”.

He added: “We look forward to welcoming new members to the team, and recruitment is currently underway for a Clinical Nurse Specialist, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Tissue Viability, and an Occupational Therapy Specialist.” 

The update follows a scathing report this week by health watchdog Hiqa on spinal surgery in CHI at Temple Street Hospital. Hiqa was also critical of governance generally across CHI.

“We acknowledge the publication of the Hiqa report this week, and do not underestimate the impact that this has on the families affected,” he said.

“The Spinal Surgery Management Unit will continue to develop and implement important quality measures and patient education resources.” 

The unit continues to work with the Paediatric Spinal Surgery Taskforce on improvements to spinal services.

CHI has said they entirely accept the findings and recommendations in the Hiqa report, with changes already underway.

They published a list of spinal service improvements on the CHI website.

Among the changes will be a new questionnaire for parents or guardians of children undergoing complex spinal surgery.

It appears to be a response to serious concerns around the lack of informed consent to surgery using unapproved springs in three children, as identified in the Hiqa report.

A ‘quality improvement plan’ is in development. This will be published within three months.

The spinal team in CHI at Temple Street have separately piloted a Halo Gravity Traction walker system.

This allows the patient to walk with assistance while in traction, instead of remaining in bed or seated in a special wheelchair.

One of the patients, Kayleigh, said: “It’s better than the wheelchair ‘cause it’s better walking than sitting down all day.

“Sometimes your arms get sore wheeling the wheelchair all day.” CHI also highlighted reductions in surgical site infection rates, saying this has had “a massive impact” for their young patients.

Additional staff are now also being hired in this area.