HIQA has published a damning report into the use of unauthorised springs in spinal surgeries at Temple Street Children’s Hospital.
The health watchdog says the use of the unregulated devices should not have happened, and children were not protected from the risk of harm.
This investigation was commissioned by the then-Health Minister 18 months ago, after it emerged non-CE marked metal springs were implanted in three children with the intention to treat scoliosis.
HIQA found the use of the springs was an attempt by a surgeon identified as Surgeon A, to replicate an experimental surgical technique still under investigation at a hospital in another country.
It also found, there was no approval granted for such a procedure to take place:
HIQA has made 19 recommendations to Children’s Health Ireland and the HSE to improve governance processes.
Accepting the findings, the CEO of Children’s Health Ireland, Lucy Nugent, said “we are deeply sorry”, adding it was “unacceptable” that these children, young people and families did not get the care they deserved.
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, says she’s made it clear to both the CEO and chair of CHI her expectations that this must not happen again.
But Labour TD Marie Sherlock says it raises concerns about CHI’s involvement in the running of the new National Children’s Hospital:
