To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) the number of children currently awaiting percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy insertion surgery; (ii) how long is the current waiting list; (iii) the actions he has taken to reduce this waiting list; (iv) whether he has engaged private healthcare providers to reduce the waiting list; and (v) his assessment of the quality of life for children on the waiting list.

On the 24th October 2024, 74 children were on the waiting list for this elective procedure. However, this number changes regularly with some children receiving their surgery and other children being added to the waiting list for the procedure. The longest waiting patient is waiting from early May 2022 this however is excluding a number of children who have been medically or socially deferred.

As stated previously my officials have been working with Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) to identify measures in order to try and address this ongoing issue.

The Belfast Trust has commenced additional clinics and theatre sessions to help reduce paediatric waiting times and additional paediatric gastrostomy procedures have been approved through waiting list initiative funding. The Trust has now scheduled additional weekend theatre sessions dates between October and December to help address the backlog.

A paediatric surgeon has now completed a validation of Peg Tube waiting lists to identify which children would be clinically suitable to transfer to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool for the procedure. The clinical criteria for transfer has been agreed by the specialist team to determine this. BHSCT is currently in negotiations with Alder Hey Hospital to identify what capacity they may have to offer. However, like the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC), they are currently also experiencing unscheduled seasonal pressures. The capacity required will include pre-assessment of these complex children, theatre capacity, inpatient bed capacity (children stay between 48-72 hours), parental training to manage the peg tube, equipment and food, and a follow up appointment.

Further discussions are also underway with another District General Hospital (DGH) to provide the Belfast Trust paediatric surgeon with a surgical theatre list. Belfast Trust Gastrostomy Specialist Nurses will provide training to staff in the DGH to help facilitate this. A number of children have been identified to be managed on these theatre lists.

A further review of surgical work performed in RBHSC is underway and any work that can be redirected to DGHs will be transferred. This may free up capacity in RBHSC for Paediatric Surgeons to perform more gastrostomy surgery and other more complex surgery that can only be carried out in RBHSC.

The Trust are also examining partnership working with the Private Sector however there are a number of areas that the Trust would need to have assurance on for the delivery of safe and effective care of these complex children many of which have other co-morbidities.

I would like to acknowledge the frustration and anxiety felt by many families and young people who are waiting for procedures, treatment or surgery. Our waiting times are longer than anyone would wish them to be for this surgery and I am truly sorry. My officials at the Department of Health, the paediatric team within RBHSC and I share the families’ frustrations but I would wish the families to know that we remain fully committed to making things better for their children and will continue to work to explore every option that is available to improve access and address waiting times for this surgery. However, this is not without challenge due to the ongoing pressures on beds and theatre capacity, as well as funding constraints.

My officials will continue to meet with BHSCT to discuss these potential solutions and examine their progress and success to ensure that all of the children and young people receive the care they require as quickly as possible.