Investigation into use of uncertified springs to determine how many people knew
Kenneth Fox
An investigation into the use of uncertified springs in spinal surgeries at Temple Street Children's Hospital will examine if senior management was aware of their use, how many people knew, and when.
The clinical director of Children's Health Ireland (CHI) confirmed on Thursday that a number of clinicians and others within CHI were aware that the uncertified implants were being used.
As the Irish Examiner reports, Dr Ike Okafor said an external group has been tasked to examine how and when the springs were procured and the full extent of who knew.
Earlier this week, the HSE commissioned Selvadurai Nayagam to review surgeries carried out by a consultant at Temple Street after an internal and external review found serious issues at the hospital.
The consultant at the centre of the controversy ceased doing complex spinal surgery on children with spina bifida in November 2022.
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly said he is "deeply concerned" that a number of people within CHI knew that unauthorised devices were being used.
Speaking in New York, Mr Donnelly said: “It is clear that other people knew that non-medical devices were being used.
"I'm very concerned about this. I introduced the Patient Safety Act recently to make sure that we have mandatory open disclosure in our country."
He could not say how many people knew about the devices at the time they were being used, but this will be examined. He confirmed that he was first made aware of issues at the hospital last year, when surgeries were stopped after "red flags" were raised.
Mr Donnelly said Mr Nayagam will have "full authority to go as wide as he wants and as deep as he wants".
"It is absolutely essential that when people know about this, people involved in the process, people who might be supporting the process, that first and foremost they immediately raise a flag," he said.
"They must feel safe doing that, they must feel supported doing that, and indeed the Patient Safety Act mandates mandatory disclosure to patients.”
