Spinal taskforce at Temple Street Hospital holds first meeting

The Paediatric Spinal Taskforce, which was set up in January, saw members finalised agree on the terms of reference which was published on Wednesday. 

The spinal taskforce set up to help address concerns in the paediatric orthopaedic service in Temple Street Hospital has had its first meeting. 

The Paediatric Spinal Taskforce, which was established in January, saw members finalise and agree on the terms of reference which was published on Wednesday. 

The group, chaired by Mark Connaughton SC, will see members work collaboratively to drive improvements and enable all stakeholders contribute to help improve and develop paediatric spinal service. 

In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Health said it intends to publish the minutes of the taskforce in the normal way once it is approved by members at subsequent meetings. 

"Pending that publication members agreed to issue a brief statement in the interests of transparancy and to update patients, their families and the public on their work," it said. 

Prior to the taskforce's first meeting on May 2, the chair met with stakeholders individually to being "engagement on the work to-date" as well as the direction of the group. 

"The Chair had positive and constructive engagement with the stakeholders that he met and these meetings helped inform the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Taskforce," the statement said. 

Meanwhile, two reviews are currently underway into the paediatric orthopaedic surgery service at Temple Street. 

An external review of spinal care at Temple Street Children's Hospital continues under Dr Selvadurai Nayagam.

A second review into the use of surgical implants/implantable medical devices, including a focus on the use of non-CE spring implants during spinal surgery at the hospital is also underway. 

Both these reviews are expected to be completed this summer. 

"The Taskforce will then provide oversight for the implementation of any recommendations from these reports," the statement added.