As 2026 begins, the recurring challenge of pediatric spinal surgery waitlists in Ireland has moved to the forefront of national health discourse. While government pledges to reform orthopaedic services have been a cornerstone of health policy for years, the lived experience of families—such as that of Darragh Cahill—highlights a persistent gap between policy intent and clinical delivery.
Darragh, who first became a public face for the “Living on the List” crisis nearly a decade ago, enters the new year having spent over 59 weeks on a “semi-urgent” list. His situation is emblematic of a wider group of 130 children currently cleared for surgery but awaiting a theater date, according to the latest figures from Children’s Health Ireland (CHI).
The Scale of the Surgical Backlog
Data provided by CHI at the end of 2025 illustrates the pressure on the national health system. While surgeons are performing procedures at a high rate—completing 488 surgeries in the first eleven months of last year—the inflow of new cases continues to outpace capacity.
- Long-Term Delays: Currently, six children have surpassed the one-year mark on the active list, with one child waiting over 24 months.
- The Clinical Threshold: Under HSE guidelines, “semi-urgent” cases ideally receive care within 13 weeks. Bridging the gap between this standard and the current year-long wait is now the primary focus for advocates and health planners alike.
- Referral Volume: Stable capacity is hindered by a steady stream of roughly 50 new referrals per month, requiring a significant expansion of theatre time and specialized nursing staff to reduce the “net” waitlist.
Seeking a Multi-Pathway Solution
For families in the Scoliosis Advocacy Network, the focus is not merely on past delays but on securing immediate, safe interventions. Many have called for a “multi-pathway” approach to relieve the burden on the domestic system:
- Cross-Border Initiatives: Families have requested increased access to the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive or specific funding to access private facilities in the UK and Europe.
- Statutory Inquiry Oversight: The public inquiry announced by Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is seen as a critical step in identifying structural bottlenecks.
- Dedicated Orthopaedic Hubs: Analysts suggest that ring-fencing orthopaedic theatre time, separate from general emergency admissions, is essential to prevent the cancellation of scheduled spinal procedures.
A Critical Moment for Accountability
The upcoming private meeting of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group (SBHPAG) in Dublin next Saturday aims to consolidate these “asks” into a formal proposal for the government. The goal is to move beyond the cycle of reviews and toward a permanent, adequately funded framework that honors the four-month maximum wait time promised in 2017.
As medical outcomes for children with scoliosis are highly dependent on timely intervention, the call for help is rooted in clinical necessity. Reducing these waitlists is no longer viewed as just an administrative goal, but as a mandatory safeguard for the long-term health and mobility of some of Ireland’s most vulnerable citizens.
