I am here tonight to highlight an issue that is causing real pain, distress and uncertainty for families right across Cork city and county. I refer to the unacceptably long waiting times for patients seeking to be seen as outpatients by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, SIVUH, in Cork. The SIVUH plays a vital role in delivering specialist orthopaedic care to people not just in Cork city but across the wider region. Every week, my office is contacted by patients, young people with sports injuries, older people waiting for hip and knee assessments and workers unable to return to their jobs due to chronic pain, all of whom are stuck in limbo waiting months and in many cases far longer than that, simply to be assessed at an outpatient clinic. Behind every statistic is a person. It is that parent who cannot lift their child because of an untreated shoulder injury. It is that farmer who cannot get through a day's work because of a deteriorating hip. It is the older person whose mobility is declining while they wait to even begin the process towards surgery or treatment. Orthopaedic conditions are not minor inconveniences. They directly impact mobility, independence, mental health and the ability to work. When outpatient appointments are delayed, diagnoses are delayed. When diagnoses are delayed, treatment is delayed. When treatment is delayed, conditions worsen, often becoming more complex and costly to treat. The simple reality is that demand for orthopaedic services in Cork has increased significantly. We have an ageing population, higher participation and support, and more people living longer with degenerative conditions, yet the resources allocated have not kept pace with that demand. Consultants and front-line staff at the SIVUH are working tirelessly. They are not the problem. They are doing everything they can within the constraints placed upon them. However, the goodwill and dedication cannot replace adequate staffing levels, theatre capacity, clinic space and funding. We need targeted investment. We need additional consultant orthopaedic posts approved and filled. We need expanded outpatient clinical capacity. We need protected theatre time to ensure that when patients are assessed, they can be moved forward for surgery without delay. We need to ensure that diagnostic supports, such as MRI and radiology, are properly resourced, so bottlenecks do not simply move elsewhere in the system. Early intervention is not just better for patients; it is more cost-effective for the health service. Treating conditions early prevents complications, reduces emergency admissions and supports people to remain independent and work independently in their communities. Patients in Cork deserve timely access to orthopaedic care. They should not have to travel long distances or consider private treatment because the public system cannot see the patient within a reasonable timeframe. I call on the House to take this genuine request and insist that the HSE prioritise additional funding and workforce supports specifically for orthopaedic services at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. A focused plan must be developed to reduce outpatient waiting lists and restore confidence in the system. I do not see this plan at the moment, which worries me. Pain should not be prolonged by process. Mobility should not be sacrificed for bureaucracy. No patient should be forgotten while waiting for care. We owe it to the people of Cork to act urgently. I ask the House to address this matter tonight.

Sentiment score: 0.01

I thank the Minister of State for her encouragement and engagement in the response. There is a glimmer of hope for orthopaedic patients in Cork. I know we had the fantastic publication of the service plan this week, where the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, announced €34 million for the surgical hub, which will allow capacity for up to 18,500 outpatient appointments. I hope that will reduce some of the orthopaedic waiting list for outpatient clinics. As the Minister of State said, it is currently at 7,444. I am glad this figure was brought before the House tonight because it outlines clearly that there is a big challenge in Cork to address the orthopaedic waiting lists. I want to mention two people who have come to my office. I have received correspondence on them from the South Infirmary and the HSE. One person, a lady in her 80s, was referred for an urgent outpatient appointment, but she cannot even get an indicative date. A lady in her 60s has been to the GP twice to get a more urgent referral to the outpatient clinic. In both cases, the management of the hospital and the HSE still cannot guarantee appointments for my two constituents. I am doing my very best to represent them but, unfortunately, I cannot get an appointment time. There is some glimmer of hope with regard to outsourcing theatre capacity in Cork to private hospitals over the coming months to cater for the long waiting lists while we wait for the surgical hub to open in CUH in quarter 3. I would encourage the Minister of State to engage with the HSE and ask it to facilitate some private capacity in private hospitals to deal with the emergent outpatient waiting list. It is chronic. To have 7,444 people waiting in Cork for a basic outpatient appointment for orthopaedics is unacceptable and must be dealt with as soon as possible.

Sentiment score: 0.25