Straight Ahead

Today in Ireland, at least 50 young people and children who have severe orthopaedic conditions such as scoliosis, developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and neuromuscular limb deformity are waiting for surgery. This surgery could reduce their pain and completely change their lives for the better. Every year, about ten of these cases have to wait longer than they should, and end up with needless extra damage because of the delay. Because orthopaedic conditions such as scoliosis affect young people most often during the growth spurt just before puberty, any delay in treatment has a serious, negative affect on the patient in terms of increased pain and discomfort. An especially severe spinal curve can reduce the amount of space within the chest, making it difficult for the lungs to function properly.

Straight Ahead's Role: At Straight Ahead we want to do something about this. We hope you can help. A fantastic team of surgeons, nurses and other medical staff at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin are waiting to complete these surgeries with many of them providing their time for free. In addition a number of Irish medical device companies have generously provided free surgical implants to ensure that these surgeries are completed for the lowest possible cost. The Straight Ahead team understands that the Minister of Health is trying to find funding to make these cases a priority, but change often takes time, particularly when public health funding is decreasing. The Minister's commitments are why Straight Ahead has set a one-year limit on its activity. The team hopes that by the end of our one-year project the Minister for Health will have set up a structure to give children and young people with orthopaedic conditions the surgery that they urgently need.

Objectives: Straight Ahead's objective is to provide free surgery for 10 Irish children in the next 12 months. Our surgical team will assess those patients whose cases are most "time critical". We cannot fix the problem of waiting lists in Ireland but we would like to do what we can to help. Through the provision of free medical care and surgical implants, Straight Ahead will reduce the costs of these cases from approximately €500,000 to €150,000 and that's where we need your help. By giving a donation, running an event, taking on a sponsored challenge you can help us complete 10 life changing surgeries for Irish children in the next 12 months