To ask the Minister for Health the hospital sites at which vertebral body tethering (VBT) procedures have been carried out, including Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) locations (Temple Street, Crumlin, Cappagh) and any external providers such as a clinic (details supplied) under the national outsourcing arrangements; the means by which follow-up, outcomes and complications relating to VBT have been recorded and monitored, given that hospital in-patient enquiry (HIPE) has no specific procedure code for VBT; the basis on which the HSE, CHI or the healthcare pricing office have been funding or coding VBT procedures in the absence of a designated HIPE code; and whether patient safety, audit and governance requirements can be met where a surgical technique is not identifiable in national activity, outcome or costing data; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Format:PDF|File Size:306KB
