Plans to offer spinal surgeries for children overseas are being taken 'with a pinch of salt', a parent has said.
It is understood a number of outsourcing agreements are being finalised by the Department of Health and families will have their accommodation and flights organised and paid for.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly flew to the United States in the past week and met with clinicians from Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital in New York.
An agreement has also been brokered with Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
Gillian's son Harvey is waiting for scoliosis surgery. She told Lunchtime Live she'd like more details.
"I'll take it with a pinch of salt - there hasn't been a huge amount of information really shared," she said.
"It's the first we're seeing of it today but I don't know if Harvey would be suitable to travel.
"Maybe to the UK but bringing him over to the US, in terms of logistics, would be a nightmare."
'He wouldn't be physically able'
Gillian said they've only ever travelled with Harvey by boat.
"He wouldn't be physically able to sit up on an airplane seat," she said.
"He's in a complete mold when he's in his wheelchair".
Gillian said she first heard about today's announcements through the media rather than health authorities.
"I know they keep talking about how they're improving communication but they don't seem to be talking to the parents still," she said.
"We haven't spoken to anyone from orthopedics in a few months now.
"He hasn't had a scan now since January to even see whether or not it's progressed".
'Emphasis on insourcing'
Gillian said she imagines there will be criteria attached to such international spinal surgeries.
"For the families that do get to travel and it gets them sorted that's brilliant," she said.
"For the families that can't travel it would be great to see a stronger emphasis on insourcing - bringing specialists into the country - so that the kids that aren't well enough to travel could get their surgeries here".
'It couldn't come sooner'
Edel's daughter Janey previously had a spinal operation in the UK.
"It couldn't come sooner for all those people out there that are waiting for their sons or daughters to have this operation," she said.
"You're not just putting the child's life on hold, you're putting the whole family on hold - and people don't realise that.
"It's not like they're going in to have their tonsils out, it's not like they've got a simple operation.
"They're going to have a nine hour operation and that in itself; the parent has to prepare themselves".
Edel said her daughter can do much more since the spinal surgery.
"The child isn't really aware that this operation is going to take this length of time," she said.
"What they are aware of is they're going to be able to do things that they want to be able to do when they have this operation.
"I'm going to collect my daughter and she's going horse riding: that wouldn't be possible if she didn't have her operation".
'A good thing'
Aaron's daughter Sophia is waiting for scoliosis surgery. He says they have heard similar promises before.
"Anything that helps the waiting list should be seen as a good thing," he said.
"We have had this outsourcing treatment lauded before by Ministers and programmes that never got [put] in place.
"There were a few cases that went and had surgery in the UK and had no follow up care here".
Aaron said aftercare will be crucial with international spinal surgeries.
"The main concern is the safety for the children; what happens their aftercare?" he asked.
"Who's accountable for making sure that all these surgeries take place?
"The sickest children and the ones that have been waiting the longest are the ones that are not able to travel.
"If it means that kids come on the list and they're able to get surgery quicker then that might free up the list".
Since 2020, there has been a significant increase in referrals onto the waiting list with a 42% increase last year compared to pre-COVID.
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