Harris: Alleged use of unauthorised devices in spinal surgery 'extraordinarily concerning' 

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris said external experts should also be asked to examine how Ireland can improve the service and wait times for patients. File picture

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris welcomed news of an external review into the Temple Street Children's Hospital scoliosis scandal.

The former health minister said the alleged use of unauthorised devices in children's spinal surgery was "extraordinarily concerning".

"What we're hearing in relation to Temple Street is, of course, extraordinarily concerning," Mr Harris said, speaking to reporters at the Ploughing Championships in Laois.

"The Minister for Health has taken the right action in terms of an external review or investigation in relation to this and I very much support his actions this morning."

External experts should also be asked to examine how Ireland can improve the service and wait times for patients, he said.

Despite "a very significant increase in investment" in scoliosis services and in children's orthopaedic services "we are still nowhere near where we need to be", Mr Harris said.

"Now that we bring in external experts to investigate the clinical safety concern that parents have — and that real and immediate issue — I think we should also use that opportunity to seek external guidance on how do we get the service right for our children."