Minister meets with CHI board in wake of child spine surgeries controversy

By Cate McCurry and Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has met with the board of Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) in the wake of the child spine surgeries controversy.

The health watchdog’s report into the experimental use of non-medical grade springs in three child spine surgeries at CHI Temple Street was published last week.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) report said the use of the springs was “wrong” and highlighted failures around governance, communication, consent and safeguards.

The chairman of CHI’s board, Dr Jim Browne, resigned hours after the report was published, while Taoiseach Micheál Martin said sacking the rest of the board would further weaken governance.

A spokesman for the health minister said she spoke to the board about the recent Hiqa report on Monday.

Ms Carroll MacNeill outlined her expectation that CHI will work with the HSE and her department to ensure that the recommendations are implemented “in full, as quickly as possible”.

She also “made clear” that Hiqa’s independent review showed what happened was wrong and should not have been allowed to happen.

She said these children were not protected from the risk of harm as they should have been, and that she expects an update on the implementation of the recommendations on April 25th.

The minister also discussed her concern at the length of time children are waiting for spinal surgery.

The opening of the long-awaited €2.2 billion National Children’s Hospital was also discussed.

The minister “made clear” that CHI needs to do everything in its power to ensure that the hospital is opened as safely and quickly as possible.

Ms Carroll MacNeill is due to meet the CHI board again on April 28th.