No child with scoliosis should have to wait more than four months for surgery.

ThatÂ’s according to the Ombudsman for Children, who has criticised the waiting time for treatment for curvature of the spine, with almost 200 children waiting over 18 months.

Jenna, seen here with Michael, says her scoliosis surgery meant she could finally be a teenager again @TodayFMNews pic.twitter.com/cnE9fwNC18

— Juliette Gash (@JulietteGash) March 20, 2017

The Government has committed to bringing wait times down to 4 months by the end of the year, a target the Ombudsman says is very ambitious.

Juliette Gash reports;

Health Minister Simon Harris issued a statement in response to the report;

 

Speaking today the Minister said, "This report rightly highlights the need for significant improvements to be achieved in terms of waiting times for scoliosis procedures for children and teenagers in Ireland."

"This absolutely is a priority for me, for the Government and for the HSE this year. I welcome the fact that the HSE has committed that no child will wait longer than 4 months for such a procedure by the end of the year. This would bring Ireland in line with waiting times in the NHS in the U.K."

"A range of measures will be used to get to this target including additional theatre capacity in Crumlin from April."

The Minister will be meeting again with scoliosis advocacy groups in the coming weeks to update them on progress." 

Sinn Fein are not convinced. Here's Health spokesperson, Louise O'Reilly;