Parents frustrated after recall of 62 children for spinal care at CHI
Parents have been left frustrated and angry following the recall of 62 children for spinal care at Children’s Health Ireland, as advocates called for action on a promised public inquiryThe recall forms part of a review by Selvadurai Nayagam into the work of an orthopaedic consultant at Children’s Health Ireland and at the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Cappagh.The review was prompted following the death of 10-year-old Dollceanna Carter in September 2022 after a series of surgeries. Other concerns related to a high level of post-operative complications and use of non-medical grade springs in three surgeries.The HSE will conduct a separate probe of this consultant’s work covering 2016-2023. It will not involve other surgeons’ work.Political pressure was growing on Wednesday for health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to publish Mr Nayagam's findings. She is also facing calls to show progress on a public inquiry promised since November into spinal care at CHI. Mr Nayagam reviewed the care of 91 children who underwent surgery performed by the consultant. Letters were sent to all of the families on Tuesday, with 62 children recalled for further clinical assessment. Amanda Coughlan Santry, co-founder of the Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group, said: “Information started being drip-fed, our phones were ringing up until after midnight on Tuesday evening. Families had questions and queries, wanting to know what to expect.“We can’t tell them what to expect because we don’t know.” Ms Coughlan Santry said she attended an online meeting with advocates for families affected by scoliosis and hip dysplasia.It was arranged at just 90 minutes' notice and was addressed by CHI and Department of Health officials. “It’s frustrating we are here again,” she said. The review was prompted following the death of 10-year-old Dollceanna Carter in September 2022 after a series of surgeries. “The minister has to get the inquiry established. Lots of families are now in the situation where they have no alternative but bring their children back to CHI.” She added: “There is no trust now for our families.” No immediate safety risks were identified in Mr Nayaham's review, according to HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry. However, in some cases, he said that after surgery, "the intended outcome was either not achieved or a different outcome occurred".Some patients had successful results, but faced “continuing clinical issues”, he said, while for others the review took place soon after surgery, making it too early to determine any problems.This is just phase one of Mr Nayaham's review, with phase two now not expected until December, Dr Henry said. This will look at wider governance issues. It is not clear if a report can be published then. Dr Henry noted “protracted legal discussions to get to this point” without specifying what legal advice prevented publication.The findings have refocused attention on concerns facing parents and staff over the last three years. One CHI consultant described Mr Nayagam as “a man of great integrity” on Wednesday as the fallout continued.Ms Carroll MacNeill faced questioning at an Oireachtas committee on Wednesday. “I would like to publish the report,” she said, adding that for legal reasons, she was not even aware the HSE had the report until last week.When Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane asked if this will be published, she said: “I can’t answer that yet, I have to examine all of the legal options that may be open to me in relation to that.” Social Democrats TD Padraig Rice described the process as “very poor”. Ms Carroll MacNeill insisted: “I do believe that this report will ultimately form part of the inquiry we are establishing to shine a light on all of these practices.” Labour health spokeswoman Marie Sherlock also raised questions about the inquiry. CHI chief executive Lucy Nugent assured parents: "CHI and our current 16 consultant orthopaedic surgeons are fully committed to supporting every element of the look-back process and to being open and transparent with families."
