Budget fails to mention children with scoliosis – Mary Lou McDonald

Mary Lou McDonald has accused the Taoiseach of failing to mention children with scoliosis in the Budget.

The Sinn Fein leader said that despite the “hype” around Tuesday’s budget, children with scoliosis will continue to wait in “pain, to deteriorate and to run out of time”.

Speaking during Leaders’ questions in the Dail, she raised the case of 13-year-old Darragh Higgins from Galway.

Darragh was born with spina bifida and has been waiting for surgery for five years, the Dail was told.

“He has been lost in a system that has failed him. His condition is ever-worsening,” Ms McDonald said.

“His spinal curve is now 120 degrees. His mother Keara posted a video on social media last week telling Darragh’s story. Darragh’s scoliosis is now crushing his lungs, his bowels and his heart.

“She is worried and terrified. Her big fear is that Darragh will become inoperable, just as other children have become inoperable as they waited and waited.

“Keara has been waiting for surgical intervention, a surgical plan and communication on her son’s scoliosis treatment for far too long.

“He has been assessed for surgery in the United States but there is still no clarity as to if or when Darragh will have the operation and if it will go ahead.

“There is no clarity on travel plans, costs or length of stay. They have been given nothing in writing and are now wracked with uncertainty.

“Here is my question for the Taoiseach. He made no mention of these children in his Budget.

“Where is the funding to finally deliver on the promise that no child would wait?”

She said the promise made by Government to clear waiting lists has been “broken” and called for the Taoiseach to set out the funding for children with scoliosis to travel to the US to get treatment.

The Government has finalised an arrangement with Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York that will allow children requiring spinal surgery to receive it in the US.

Simon Harris said the total health budget is 25.6 billion euro.

“It means that health spending has doubled over the last decade and that staffing will have increased by 30%. It also means that there will be a real opportunity to make progress on all waiting lists, as we have been doing in recent years,” he added.

“It also means that there will be further ability to invest more in paediatric spinal waiting lists.

“The Minister (for Health Stephen Donnelly) has told families, doctors, the HSE and this House that any resources required by the dedicated spinal unit he has established will be provided and I fully support him on that.”

Mr Harris told the Dail that consultants from New York travelled to Ireland to see patients at a clinic in Dublin.

“Following a clinic held in Dublin with surgeons from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, a group of patients has also been offered treatment abroad and this is now in progress,” he added.

“An arrangement is also being finalised with the Portland Hospital in the UK and I am assured families will be fully supported in accessing these pathways if it is the right option for their children.

“A support package will be put in place to support them in travelling, including flights, accommodation, transport and travel insurance for all those in the travelling party and, quite rightly, a subsistence rate for expenses will be provided as well.

“I am assured that two of the flights for any family travelling will be business class.

“I am meeting scoliosis advocacy groups next week and I am very happy and eager to discuss all these matters.”