Progress update from CHI’s Spinal Surgery Management Unit

• 434 patients have had their spinal surgery between Jan-Oct 2024.
• 368 outpatients are no longer waiting for their first spinal consultation.
• 20 patients are confirmed to have their spinal surgery abroad.
• Approximately 40 new patients added to spinal surgery waiting lists per month.

In February 2024, Children's Health Ireland (CHI) established a team called the Spinal Services Management Unit. The aim of the Spinal Services Management Unit is to build a safe and world-class spinal service, which treats children and young people in a timely and patient-centred way.

Key developments have been made to improve the care and communication for everyone involved in spinal services. These include:

Increased spinal surgery numbers:

Children's Health Ireland has increased the number of spinal surgeries carried out in 2024 compared to previous years. As of end of October 2024, Children's Health Ireland has completed 434 spinal surgeries so far this year.

Monthly waiting list and activity reports are published on www.ChildrensHealthIreland.ie/spinal. These reports are now aligned with the NTPF’s reporting structure and have been recently updated to include waiting time bands for “active” patients.

Surgery abroad:

In total to date, 20 patients have confirmed they will have their spinal surgery in either London or New York. A number of these patients have already had their spinal surgeries, while more will travel abroad this week and in the weeks that follow. Approximately 10-15 (of the 20) will be done before Christmas (subject to health checks, which occur just prior to their procedure).

A funding package has been provided for each patient travelling abroad for their spinal surgery.

Saturday out-patient clinics:

Since April, CHI Orthopaedic Consultants have been holding monthly Saturday Clinics for outpatients waiting for their first spinal consultation. As a result, the spinal outpatients waiting list has been reduced by 368 patients (42%) and the time patients are waiting for their first outpatient appointment has improved. This number (368) includes 147 patients who were waiting over 12 months for their first appointment and have now been seen by a consultant.

16 new patients have been listed for spinal surgery from these clinics.

Regular outpatient appointments continue as usual, with an average of 40 new patients added to surgery waiting lists per month.

GP x-ray referrals:

In addition for outpatients, when a GP refers a patient to CHI for consultation with the spinal team, there is now a dedicated pathway for the GP to order their x-ray in advance. In cases of suspected scoliosis, having an x-ray accompany the GP referral letter significantly improves the triage process, and ensures that urgent cases will be prioritised.

Spina bifida complex care:

Mr Jacques Noel, Consultant in Orthopaedics, has joined the spina bifida complex care team. Mr Noel attends spina bifida clinics twice per month to review patients with spinal issues.

CHI at Temple Street Clinical Nurse Specialist:

The Spinal Surgery Management Unit is delighted to welcome a new Clinical Nurse Specialist for Spinal Disorders to the team in CHI at Temple Street.

Extended theatre days in CHI at Crumlin:

An early start in theatre once a week in CHI at Crumlin means having the first patient ready for surgery at 7am and having time for a second spinal procedure in the afternoon.

This pilot project will provide capacity for approx.20 additional surgeries between July and December 2024.

Mr David Moore, Head of the Spinal Surgery Management Unit, says: