Nearly 400 children have been on a hospital waiting list for an orthopaedic procedure for at least two years.

A further 1,600 have been waiting for between 12 and 24 months.

Paediatric orthopaedics is about the evaluation and treatment of bone, joint or muscle problems in a child who is still growing.

This includes newborn babies through to teenagers.

According to details released under the Freedom of Information Act, 2,032 children have been waiting at least a year for a procedure.

Almost 1,800 of those are on the outpatient list - while 233 are waiting for an inpatient procedure.

Dr Martin Daly is from the GP committee of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO).

"Those figures - while shocking - are unsurprising, and they're a co-representation of the pain and suffering of the children who are involved in addition to the uncertainty, worry and anxiety experienced by both themselves and their parents.

"I had one such young girl who, in spite of very vigorous lobbying by her parents, that to wait to years for corrective spinal surgery for scoliosis after a decision was made that she needed that surgery".

Some 314 children have been waiting at least two years for an outpatient appointment, while 61 have been waiting at least 24 months for an inpatient appointment.