Ireland Hospital Waiting Lists Near 1 Million as Children’s Spinal Queue Drops

Children’s Spinal Surgery Waiting List Figures for July

According to Children’s Health Ireland, the active spinal surgery waiting list stood at 104 patients at the end of last month. These patients are currently completing preoperative assessments and will be assigned a scheduled admission date, as reported by the Irish Examiner.

CHI data shows that 43 planned procedures are currently lined up for 36 individual patients, as some children require multiple procedures as part of their individualized care plans. Since January, the health service added 229 procedures to the surgical waiting list while simultaneously carrying out 279 spinal surgeries during the same timeframe.

• Seven patients have been waiting between 12 and 15 months for their procedure.
• Two patients have experienced wait times spanning 18 to 24 months.
• One child has been waiting between 24 and 36 months.

“The waiting list changes constantly, reflecting both progress in providing care and ongoing demand for surgery,” a statement from CHI said, according to The Irish Times.

Outpatient Department Wait Times and Clinical Prioritization

CHI reported that the average wait time for an OPD appointment dropped to 3.9 months, a sharp improvement from the 7.4-month average recorded at the same time in 2025.

At the end of last month, 431 patients remained on the OPD waiting list, marking a 22.6 per cent reduction compared to the 557 patients waiting at the same point the previous year. CHI confirmed that 99.5 per cent of all patients are waiting less than 12 months for their initial OPD appointment.

Dave Moore, head of CHI’s spinal surgery management unit, outlined the clinical criteria used to manage the queue. “All patients are prioritised for spinal surgery based on their diagnosis, size of spinal deformity, the presence of other conditions or co-morbidities, their age and the amount of growth they have left to do,” Moore stated, according to The Irish Times.

“Since the beginning of the year, more spinal surgeries have been carried out than new procedures added to the waiting list, demonstrating the significant work taking place across our service,” Moore added.

Institutional Leadership and Treatment Pathways

CHI chief executive Lucy Nugent emphasized ongoing administrative and clinical efforts to streamline pediatric care ahead of future infrastructural transitions. “These figures show the continued progress being made by our teams in reducing waiting times and ensuring children receive the care they need,” Nugent said, as reported by The Irish Times.

Not all scoliosis patients require immediate surgical intervention. Non-surgical pathways, including observation, casting, and bracing, are utilized for many children. CHI reported that zero delays currently affect children requiring braces or casts.

For families exploring treatment abroad, uptake remains low due to personal preference and follow-up considerations. CHI data indicates that 19 patients have received spinal treatment overseas since January 2024, compared to more than 1,000 surgeries performed domestically by CHI spinal services over the same period.