The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group have called an announcement by Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) on a reduction in waiting times “fluff” and “disingenuous.”

CHI announced that the average wait for a child outpatient to receive a spinal appointment decreased from 7.4 months to 3.9 months in a year, with 99.5% of patients waiting less than a year.

CHI also noted that the number of spinal surgeries carried out from January to July in 2026 exceeded the number during the same months last year.

On The Hard Shoulder, Amanda Coughlan, the co-lead of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group, said that it was disheartening that families had to hear these figures from the media.

She argued that this approach was not how CHI will build trust with families.

“It’s all fluff”

Ms. Coughlan said that the announcement is “fluff” when the numbers are broken down.

She said that CHI did 279 procedures between January and July of this year, compared to 303 during the same period last year, representing 24 fewer operations.

Ms. Coughlan also noted that CHI will need to increase their activity by 31% in the remaining five months if they are to reach their target of 540 spinal procedures completed in 2026.

“It’s very disingenuous of CHI” to release a statement

Ms. Coughlan also noted that the number of spinal surgeries CHI outsourced internationally had “remained stagnant” between 2025 and 2026, despite the programme receiving significant funding.

She also noted that the Minister of Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has publicly expressed frustration at the stagnant figures.

Ms. Coughlan also argued that it was “disingenuous” for CHI to release these figures when families feel there are “no outcomes for their child.”

She said that the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group speaks to families every day and that these figures do not represent families’ lived experience.