Playing politics with paediatric spinal surgery disgraceful
Labour health spokesperson Duncan Smith has said he finds it hard to believe that the Government will make good on its latest commitment to children awaiting spinal surgery.
Deputy Smith said:
“It’s nearly seven years since then-Minister, Simon Harris, said no child would wait longer than four months for a scoliosis procedure by the end of that year. Time after time, these children have been let down by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
“The timing of the latest announcement from this Government on its plans to tackle waiting lists for children who need spinal surgery is peculiar to say the least. With a General Election on the horizon, it strikes me that Minister Donnelly is attempting to get some positive PR out of this latest announcement.
“The Government has no credibility on this. They have utterly failed to deliver timely access to the urgent care these children need.
“It’s hard to emphasise just how let down these families feel. It is, almost without peer, one of the worst scandals that has emerged in the health service. Children suffering from spina bifida, scoliosis and related conditions have been let down by an under-resourced healthcare system for too many years.”