Orthopaedic surgeon’s post empty for 8 months

THE south of the country remains without an orthopaedic surgeon to operate on babies with dislocated hips, eight months after the retirement of the only specialist qualified to do so.

A replacement for Anthony McGuinness, who retired last April on health grounds, has yet to be recruited, forcing the extension of a temporary arrangement with Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.

Under this arrangement, brokered by the Health Service Executive South, four orthopaedic paediatric surgeons travel to Cork on their days off to treat children.