Hospital Procedures

Tuesday, 21 October 2025

Questions (825, 826, 827)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

825. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked 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. [57188/25]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

826. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether vertebral body tethering (VBT) was reviewed, approved or considered by the CHI Ethics Committee prior to being introduced as a surgical option for children; if not, the reason ethical approval was not sought for a new and experimental procedure; whether the devices used for VBT were brought before CHI’s Medical Devices Committee for assessment, approval or procurement review; to provide the dates and documentation of any such consideration; whether a separate or enhanced consent process was developed for VBT, given that CHI has described it as an “emerging and experimental procedure”; whether consent standards for new techniques differ from those used for established spinal fusion surgery; whether VBT was introduced or conducted under any research, pilot, innovation or clinical investigation pathway; if so, the governance, monitoring or ethical approvals that were in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57189/25]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

827. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether devices used for vertebral body tethering (VBT) at Children’s Health Ireland were added to the SAP procurement system and approved by the CHI Medical Devices Committee despite there being no HIPE procedure code for VBT; if so, that way in which use, cost and oversight of those implants have been recorded and monitored at national level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57190/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 825, 826 and 827 together.

I am committed to continue to drive progress in paediatric spinal services.

CHI advises that Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT) is a surgical technique designed for children and adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis who are still growing and for whom non-operative treatments such as bracing have not worked. VBT procedures have been carried out in CHI at Crumlin and Temple Street, and no VBT procedures have been outsourced to private facilities. There is also no separate funding stream for VBT procedures.

CHI advises that it adheres to the National Consent Policy and Medical Council Guidelines in relation to obtaining consent for a medical, surgical, or dental procedure, and that VBT has not been conducted as part of any research, pilot, innovation or clinical investigation pathway.

CHI advises that all implantable devices currently set up on the SAP System have been through the CHI Medical Device Committee, approved for use and CE Certifications obtained. Any non-CE marked devices have obtained derogations via the HPRA.

In relation to your specific queries that relate to operational matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 826 answered with Question No. 825.

Question No. 827 answered with Question No. 825.