A child waiting for spinal surgery is facing his second year on a waiting list despite pledges to slash delays and being cleared for his operation a year ago. The latest spinal service figures from Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) show 130 children ready for surgery and waiting. Among the longest waiting are four children waiting 12 to 15 months and two waiting 18 to 24 months. Claire Cahill, a co-founder of the Scoliosis Advocacy Network said: "Our son started 2025 on a scoliosis wait list and ends it on one." 'Semi-urgent' surgery listShe explained that Darragh has spent 59 weeks on a ‘semi-urgent spinal surgery list’.

Source: Irish Examiner January 02, 2026 21:30 UTC