Laois disabled activist tackles Taoiseach Simon Harris over children waiting for spinal surgery
The Taoiseach told Mr Kavanagh that the number of children waiting more than four months for spinal surgery is expected to fall to 20 by the end of the year.
WHILE the Taoiseach Simon Harris was in Portlaoise last Friday the Secretary of Physical Impairment Ireland (PII) Leo Kavanagh spoke with him on issues relating to the number of children waiting for spinal surgery.
Mr Kavanagh, from Clonad, is the national spokesperson for the disabled persons’ representative organisation.
Questioned by Mr Kavanagh on how long children would have to wait for the life changing surgery the Taoiseach told him that the number of children waiting more than four months for spinal surgery is expected to fall to 20 by the end of the year.
The reply Mr Kavanagh said left him, “dismayed, disappointed and disillusioned knowing that this promise by the Taoiseach is impracticable due to a number of serious concerns in relation to Children’s Health Ireland.”
Mr Kavanagh said that the Taoiseach also informed him that most of the procedures will be done in the three paediatric orthopaedic hospitals in Dublin and that any child with highly complex needs waiting for surgery will, if clinically suitable, and in consultation with their treating clinician, be offered surgery in America. He was informed that two accompanying parents or guardians could fly business class with the child.
In their conversation Mr Harris also praised the work of Mr David Moore, consultant in Orthopaedics who practices mostly in CHI at Crumlin.
Mr Kavanagh reminded the Taoiseach that in 2017 he announced that children waiting on the spinal surgery waiting list for Scoliosis, Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus would have to wait no longer than four months for their procedures.
