Cork consultant sees children hospitalised after wearing too-small shoes

Parents call for children’s shoes to be considered essential items as a paediatrician warns of the dangers of ill-fitting footwear for children

The difficulty of accessing appropriate shoes for children is a problem that has been highlighted by many parents on social media in recent days.

A Cork paediatrician has called for an appointment system to be introduced so children can get their feet measured for correctly-fitting shoes.

Dr Niamh Lynch, a consultant paediatrician at the Bon Secours Hospital, said the measurement issue is having knock-on effects on children’s health and wellbeing, as well as causing practical concerns for parents of schoolchildren. She said she has seen children left in pain because of an inability to access appropriate footwear.