Answers needed on impact of hip operation review on existing services across CHI and Cappagh

Labour Health spokesperson Marie Sherlock has written to the Minister for Health and the Board of CHI to seek information on the staffing and procedural impact of the review into hip operations.

Deputy Sherlock said:

“Parents of children who have gone undergone hip operations are enduring an agonizing wait for the results of the audit to be hopefully shared with them by the end of next week. However, there is nothing to stop CHI and the Minister from informing us as to what impact the review is having on the availability of all existing orthopaedic surgeons to perform their roles and whether surgeons have been suspended or have had their work curtailed.

“With average waiting times over 319 days for orthopaedic surgery across CHI and a shortage of paediatric orthopedic surgeons, it is vital that we have an understanding of the impact of the review in CHI.

“The results of the review are potentially seismic and may well reflect very deep dysfunction in how surgical decisions were taken going back over many years with very young children as the victims of that dysfunction.

“Accountability is absolutely vital to the ongoing trust and confidence in our paediatric services. However, it is important to say that if the review has or will lead to any slowdown or reduction in orthopaedic procedures across CHI, the board of CHI must act immediately to address this.

“Yesterday, I heard from the family of Daniel Collins that yet again he has been left with no date for his desperately needed surgery. This is despite being told almost 16 months ago that he needed surgery and been deemed fit for surgery over recent weeks.

“This is the heartbreak that hundreds of families are facing right now, and they need assurances that there will be no delay within CHI as to processing of spinal surgeries.

“The hip operation scandal is yet another example of deep failings within CHI and the long-term inappropriate use of gastrostomy buttons in children without parental consent will require another review of practices within CHI.”