New figures reveal that 525 scoliosis surgeries on children have been cancelled by Children's Health Ireland (CHI) hospitals over the last four years.
The reasons for cancellations include children getting sick, emergency cases taking priority, and intensive care unit beds not being available.
Children's Health Ireland said that in the 525 cases cancelled between 2022-2025, the cases were replaced with another spinal patient in 277 instances.
The data was secured in a parliamentary question submitted by Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín.
CHI said that with increased patient activity, there is a proportionate increase in "rescheduled operations."
The breakdown of cancelled scoliosis surgeries by year is:
- 85 cases cancelled in 2022 (The 2022 figures only relate to Crumlin Hospital)
- 126 cases cancelled in 2023
- 150 cases cancelled in 2024
- 164 cases cancelled in 2025
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Last year, in relation to the 164 cases cancelled, 48% were due to a clinical decision, 19% were for a personal/patient/guardian reason, and 11% were due to the child being sick.
Children's Health Ireland said that its aim is to avoid cancellations when it can.
CHI said that cancellations are often unavoidable, and that patient safety is its priority.
It added that theatre scheduling often changes at very short notice, to deal with the most urgent cases.
CHI said that spinal surgery is afforded the highest priority in its theatres.
It said it makes every effort to replace any cancelled procedure with another patient on the waiting list.
The data shows that in 2022, no cancellations were replaced with another spinal patient.
In that year, 15% of cancellations were due to Covid-19.
In 2023, a total of 69 cancellations were replaced with another spinal patient, with 93 in 2024 and 115 last year.
For inpatients, CHI said that all cancellations and the reasons for these are tracked through a patient administration system.
Latest figures show that at the end of January, there were 215 patients on the CHI waiting list for spinal surgery, the same number as in December.
Nine children were listed as waiting between 12-15 months for their operation, and one has been waiting between 18-24 months.
These patients are ready for surgery and waiting for a scheduled date.
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In a statement issued this afternoon, CHI said: "Every month, patients are receiving their surgery and leaving the list, but their space on the list is filled by another patient who is newly referred for care.
"As an example, 524 patients were added to the list between Jan-Dec 2025, while 534 spinal surgeries were carried out in the same timeframe."
The statement added: "The weighted average wait time for spinal surgery is now approximately 5.2 months."
Meanwhile, the Department of Health said: "Cancelled surgeries are challenging for patients and their families. CHI aims to avoid cancellations where possible, though sometimes this may be unavoidable due to patient sickness or for the need for emergencies to take priority.
"CHI has advised the Department that every effort is made to replace any cancelled procedure with another patient on the waiting list for a spinal procedure."
The Department also said: "Several initiatives are under way to support improvements in paediatric spinal services and reduce the time that children are waiting for spinal procedures, including international outsourcing.
"International outsourcing has supported 19 patients to have surgery abroad since 2024."
