logo
‘Frustration' over €5m fund failing to fix spinal surgery wait times as bill aiming to force HSE into action progresses

‘Frustration' over €5m fund failing to fix spinal surgery wait times as bill aiming to force HSE into action progresses

The Irish Suna day ago
THE Health Minister admits she's unhappy a €5million boost for kids' spinal services hasn't led to a major cut in wait times.
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has ordered an audit of waiting list management practices for spinal surgeries at
2
Michael McDowell thanked the Minister for backing the bill through the Seanad
Credit: Damien Storan/PA Wire
2
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is frustrated at the lack of drop in surgery wait times despite large funding
Credit: PA
The Seanad today passed the final stages of a bill that would force the
Minister Carroll MacNeill has backed the bill tabled by independent senators - led by Michael McDowell - which will now go to the
Speaking in the Seanad tonight, Minister Carroll MacNeill expressed her 'frustration' at how much funding has been invested in spinal services including a €5m recruitment fund but there has not been a significant drop in wait times.
She said: 'It is a frustration to me to observe the scale of additional resources that have gone into this area – the hiring of more healthcare professionals in
Read more in Health
'And there is recruitment ongoing for that and I do appreciate it can be difficult to recruit consultant positions.
'If there is a consultant position advertised that there may be a range of people who go for it and perhaps some people aren't qualified, perhaps some people don't have the correct experience, some people withdraw and take positions elsewhere – so I do appreciate that consultant recruitment is difficult.
'Nevertheless, there has been significant additional capacity and resources put into this area over several years and I don't think I see a commensurate jump in activity and I definitely have more questions and more analysis to do in relation to that.'
The number of children waiting over three months for spinal surgeries has fallen from 108 in August of last year to 60 as of the end of May.
Most read in Health
Some 513
However, 15 of these operations were done in hospitals in
Irish teen, 14, who loves wheelchair basketball is struggling to push chair as condition getting worse while waiting years for spinal surgery
Minister Carroll MacNeill told the Seanad that she is working with HSE boss Bernard Gloster to carry out audits on waiting list management practices in three areas of
She said this internal audit will take between four and six months as she promised to stay on top of the issue.
The Minister questioned why so many surgeries were being outsourced to the private hospital in Blackrock.
SURGERIES OUTSOURCED
She said: 'There's quite a lot of activity in Blackrock as well for example. There was 48 procedures done in Blackrock as well.
'As I look at this year's projections I see that they are, to my mind, they seem to be higher in Blackrock and not as active internationally and those are the sort of things I think are important to monitor and interrogate.'
Independent Senator Michael McDowell thanked the Minister for backing the bill through the Seanad and noted her decision to highlight the use of Blackrock hospital.
Our Kids Can't Wait Campaign
WAITING lists in Ireland have long been a national disgrace.
More than 106,000 children are on hospital waiting lists for all treatments. However, a new source of shame has emerged as 327 children wait for life changing spinal surgeries.
Their conditions are getting worse while they languish on waiting lists.
Such are the delays, many child patients will be outside the therapeutic window when their treatments are approved.
Earlier this month, the Seanad heard how at least one child has become permanently paralysed since the issue was raised publicly before Christmas.
Their plight has been spearheaded by campaigning Senator Tom Clonan, who himself has a child with a disability.
Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has even admitted that the health service is failing these kids.
Children are being allowed to deteriorate due to mismanagement, which has allowed the waiting lists to grow.
The Irish Sun's Kids Can't Wait campaign aims to shine a light on how the State is failing sick children and give their families a voice.
It will also force the Government to do something to clear the backlog of operations and give these children a chance of living a normal life.
He said: 'I note what the Minister says about the apparent concentration of some surgeries in Blackrock.
'I do ask that the Minister and the Department and the HSE to ask why is that happening and whether there is a differential between patients who have insurance and patients who do not to be seen.'
CHI bosses will tomorrow appear before the Public Accounts Committee to be questioned over a range of scandals that have rocked the health service in recent months.
These include non-medical springs being implanted in children, hundreds of children having hip surgeries they may not have needed and a report that unveiled a culture and waiting list issues.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ulster Rugby secure new naming-rights partner for Ravenhill Stadium
Ulster Rugby secure new naming-rights partner for Ravenhill Stadium

The 42

time2 hours ago

  • The 42

Ulster Rugby secure new naming-rights partner for Ravenhill Stadium

ULSTER RUGBY HAVE secured a new long-term naming-rights sponsorship deal for Ravenhill Stadium. Effective immediately, the home of Ulster Rugby will officially become known as Affidea Stadium (pronounced AF-fi-DAY-ah) after the northern province agreed a partnership with the European healthcare company. In a statement, Ulster said that the new partnership will provide 'a strong platform to invest in the development of players, facilities and fan experience'. Advertisement Affidea, who entered the Irish market in 2007 with the acquisition of MRI Ireland, now operates in over 16 countries and has 410 clinics across Europe. Affidea Ireland have recently expanded their footprint in the north, with plans approved for the company to open a state-of-the-art private hospital in Belfast in 2026. The new facility is set to include an orthopaedic and sports medicine centre of excellence. Ulster CEO Hugh McCaughey said that the province is 'delighted to welcome Affidea as our new stadium naming-rights partner.' 'Affidea shares our passion for high performance, our commitment to the health and wellbeing of people across the province, and our vision for the future of rugby in Ulster,' McCaughey added. 'Together, we will continue to invest in elite and grassroots rugby, and we look forward to seeing the Affidea Stadium become a beacon for sport and community pride in Ulster.' Barry Downes, CEO of Affidea UK and Ireland said: 'Affidea is thrilled to partner with Ulster Rugby, a club with rich heritage, passionate support, and a deep-rooted connection to the local community. 'This partnership represents an exciting opportunity for Affidea to further grow our presence and impact in the province of Ulster. Rugby is a game that inspires excellence, teamwork, and trust, values that align strongly with our approach to healthcare. We're proud to see our name on a stadium that also represents those ideals.' Ireland's senior women's team will play the first game at the newly branded Affidea Stadium on 9 August (. Scott Bemand's side will host Canada 48 hours before the head coach announces his squad for the Rugby World Cup.

Radiographer banned from conducting X-rays on under 18s over inappropriate behaviour
Radiographer banned from conducting X-rays on under 18s over inappropriate behaviour

Sunday World

time6 hours ago

  • Sunday World

Radiographer banned from conducting X-rays on under 18s over inappropriate behaviour

Peconcillo admitted he had acted in a manner that was not clinically justified or appropriate when he was carrying out a chest X-ray on a 16-year-old girl at Tallaght University Hospital A radiographer who was found guilty of professional misconduct over his inappropriate behaviour in carrying out a chest X-ray on a young female patient whom he later tried to contact via social media has been banned from conducting any radiography services on anyone under 18 for 12 months. The prohibition on carrying out X-rays on children and adolescents apart from exceptional circumstances and then only under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner is one of five conditions imposed on the registration of radiographer, Adrian Peconcillo, by CORU – the regulatory body of health and social care professionals. It follows a fitness-to-practise inquiry by CORU earlier this year at which Peconcillo admitted he had acted in a manner that was not clinically justified or appropriate when he was carrying out a chest X-ray on a 16-year-old girl at Tallaght University Hospital on January 25, 2023. The inquiry heard that the patient had come out of the changing area undressed from the waist up and covering her chest due to the failure of Peconcillo to provide her with a hospital gown prior to her undressing. Tallaght Hospital News in 90 Seconds - Thursday, July 3 The radiographer – an Irish citizen who comes originally from the Philippines – was also accused of looking at her in a forward-facing manner whilst her back was against the X-ray board and later inviting her to look at her X-ray while she remained undressed. Evidence was heard that Peconcillo had also sent the teenager one or more follow requests to her Instagram account on the same date that were inappropriate and without any clinical justification. It emerged that the radiographer had tried to contact her with his own Instagram account which was in the name of 'Adrian Wanderman'. He had originally claimed in correspondence with CORU that he had sent the Instagram request to an Australian DJ with the same name as the girl. The girl's father said his daughter had been doing her mock exams at the time and her head was 'all over the place' and she was blaming herself for the incident. The inquiry was held after a formal complaint was made to CORU about Peconcillo's behaviour by the radiography services manager at TUH, Laura Gannon. It heard that Peconcillo was suspended by TUH after the teenager's parents had made a complaint to the hospital and he was subsequently dismissed in April 2023 following an internal investigation. The CORU inquiry heard he has not worked as a radiographer since but had found employment as a phlebotomist at St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin where he primarily works with geriatric patients but on a salary 50% less than he earned in TUH. The fitness-to-practise committee also found the radiographer's actions constituted breaches of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics adopted by the Radiographers Registration Board. They related to his failure to maintain high standards of personal conduct and behaviour and to use social media responsibly. The committee noted that Peconcillo had shown remorse and recognised his poor judgement in dealing with the young patient. The committee's chairperson, Geraldine Feeney, said they had considered a period of suspension to be the appropriate sanction but had decided against it in circumstances where Mr Peconcillo had not worked as a radiographer for almost two years. The committee rejected an application by his legal representatives for the inquiry to be concluded by his consenting to admonishment and censure and giving an undertaking about his future conduct. Ms Feeney said the seriousness of the proven allegations required some form of sanction. She said the committee also recognised that the incidents had been devastating for the radiographer both professionally and personally after he lost his job and was refused access to his only child by his former partner. The committee observed that there were 'system shortcomings' within TUH that had facilitated Peconcillo's actions albeit they did not excuse such conduct. Other conditions imposed on the radiographer require him to complete courses relating to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults as well as ones on social media and professional practice and relating to professional ethics, trust, care and dignity in the workplace. All courses have to be completed within 12 months and at his own expense. CORU also required Peconcillo to notify any current or prospective employer about the findings against him and the conditions attached to his registration to practise as a radiographer. The decision to attach conditions to the radiographer's registration was confirmed by the High Court earlier this week.

Radiographer banned from conducting X-rays on anyone under 18 for 12 months
Radiographer banned from conducting X-rays on anyone under 18 for 12 months

Irish Daily Mirror

time7 hours ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Radiographer banned from conducting X-rays on anyone under 18 for 12 months

A radiographer who was found guilty of professional misconduct over his inappropriate behaviour in carrying out a chest X-ray on a young female patient whom he later tried to contact via social media has been banned from conducting any radiography services on anyone under 18 for 12 months. The prohibition on carrying out X-rays on children and adolescents apart from exceptional circumstances and then only under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner is one of five conditions imposed on the registration of radiographer, Adrian Peconcillo, by CORU – the regulatory body of health and social care professionals. It follows a fitness-to-practise inquiry by CORU earlier this year at which Peconcillo admitted he had acted in a manner that was not clinically justified or appropriate when he was carrying out a chest X-ray on a 16-year-old girl at Tallaght University Hospital on January 25, 2023. The inquiry heard that the patient had come out of the changing area undressed from the waist up and covering her chest due to the failure of Peconcillo to provide her with a hospital gown prior to her undressing. The radiographer – an Irish citizen who comes originally from the Philippines – was also accused of looking at her in a forward-facing manner whilst her back was against the X-ray board and later inviting her to look at her X-ray while she remained undressed. Evidence was heard that Peconcillo had also sent the teenager one or more follow requests to her Instagram account on the same date that were inappropriate and without any clinical justification. It emerged that the radiographer had tried to contact her with his own Instagram account which was in the name of 'Adrian Wanderman'. He had originally claimed in correspondence with CORU that he had sent the Instagram request to an Australian DJ with the same name as the girl. The girl's father said his daughter had been doing her mock exams at the time and her head was 'all over the place' and she was blaming herself for the incident. The inquiry was held after a formal complaint was made to CORU about Peconcillo's behaviour by the radiography services manager at TUH, Laura Gannon. It heard that Peconcillo was suspended by TUH after the teenager's parents had made a complaint to the hospital and he was subsequently dismissed in April 2023 following an internal investigation. The CORU inquiry heard he has not worked as a radiographer since but had found employment as a phlebotomist at St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin where he primarily works with geriatric patients but on a salary 50% less than he earned in TUH. The fitness-to-practise committee also found the radiographer's actions constituted breaches of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics adopted by the Radiographers Registration Board. They related to his failure to maintain high standards of personal conduct and behaviour and to use social media responsibly. The committee noted that Peconcillo had shown remorse and recognised his poor judgement in dealing with the young patient. The committee's chairperson, Geraldine Feeney, said they had considered a period of suspension to be the appropriate sanction but had decided against it in circumstances where Mr Peconcillo had not worked as a radiographer for almost two years. The committee rejected an application by his legal representatives for the inquiry to be concluded by his consenting to admonishment and censure and giving an undertaking about his future conduct. Ms Feeney said the seriousness of the proven allegations required some form of sanction. She said the committee also recognised that the incidents had been devastating for the radiographer both professionally and personally after he lost his job and was refused access to his only child by his former partner. The committee observed that there were 'system shortcomings' within TUH that had facilitated Peconcillo's actions albeit they did not excuse such conduct. Other conditions imposed on the radiographer require him to complete courses relating to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults as well as ones on social media and professional practice and relating to professional ethics, trust, care and dignity in the workplace. All courses have to be completed within 12 months and at his own expense. CORU also required Peconcillo to notify any current or prospective employer about the findings against him and the conditions attached to his registration to practise as a radiographer. The decision to attach conditions to the radiographer's registration was confirmed by the High Court earlier this week.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store