CHI going through 'a time of reset', Oireachtas committee to hear

More than 2,200 children have been recalled for assessment on hip dysplasia operations done at various times since 2010. CHI hopes to complete this within six months. Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins

Children's hospitals in Dublin are going through a reset in the wake of controversies, the Oireachtas Health Committee will hear on Thursday.

They will hear 60 children affected by the hip dysplasia issues have been seen, with more appointments confirmed by a team working through reviews of over 2,200 children.

Separately, 48 children including scoliosis patients are waiting longer than four months for spinal operations, a decrease since the start of this year, the committee is expected to hear.

Children's Health Ireland CEO Lucy Nugent, former CEO Eilish Hardiman, and senior doctors will discuss spinal and hip dysplasia surgeries as well as funding for waiting list clinics.

Ms Nugent is expected to apologise again for failings in care.

She is expected to stress the primary focus for staff in CHI is “to deliver timely access to quality, safe care to children and young people" and that "it is a time of reset for us”.

More than 2,200 children have been recalled for assessment on hip dysplasia operations done at various times since 2010. CHI hopes to complete this within six months.

An audit indicated a high number of these at Temple Street hospital and the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Cappagh may have been unnecessary. These problems were not seen in Crumlin hospital.

The reviews involve a one-stop multi-disciplinary team appointment with a doctor, physiotherapist, an X-ray if necessary, and referral if needed.

The committee is expected to hear 105 appointments were confirmed, with 73 patients booked and so far 60 seen. Some families have asked to rearrange.

Separately, an independent HSE review will determine if harm has occurred to any child.

Ms Nugent is expected to acknowledge this is a very stressful time for families, and to say “any complications identified during the follow-up reviews will be acknowledged, discussed with families, and appropriate action will be taken". These surgeries are now under a single team supported by two international experts.

The head of the Spinal Service Management Unit David Moore will also attend.

The committee will hear a higher number of spinal procedures have been done so far this year than during the same months last year. This year’s figure is 223 up from 196.

A new consultant orthopaedic spinal surgeon starts work in August, and recruitment has started for three more such surgeons.

There is a waiting list of 195 children although this includes children who are not quite ready yet, with 115 actively waiting for a date.

Ms Nugent is also expected to defend CHI’s reasons for not publishing a report on waiting list funding, saying it is not legally possible to do so.

She is expected to say it is its legal duty not to publish the report and say this remains despite media coverage of much of the detail in the document.

Ms Nugent has given the Committee a summary of the report including a list of actions CHI have taken on foot of those recommendations. She is expected to say she hopes the Committee appreciate this is as far as they can go to remain compliant with legal advice.