HSE to follow up cases of 62 children who had spinal care after review at CHI

A review started in 2023 of work carried out by a surgeon at the centre of a controversy is now not expected to finish until the end of this year, HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry (pictured) said.

The HSE is set to review the cases of 62 children who had spinal care at Children’s Health Ireland following concerns that some surgeries did not lead to the expected outcome. 

The families involved in the surgeries, carried out by a surgeon at the centre of a controversy also linked to the use of non-medical springs in surgeries, are being contacted this week by the HSE for further follow-up after a review of 91 cases.

Unexpected complications may have arisen for others in the group. The HSE is now also doing a wider look-back at the work of this surgeon covering 2016 to 2023.

This will include all spinal, limb reconstruction and surgical dislocation of the hip, but not surgeries in the area of trauma and general orthopaedics.

Both actions are part of the review started in 2023 and led by UK orthopaedics consultant Selvadurai Nayagam. This is now not expected to finish until the end of this year, HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said.

A separate review into the death of 10-year-old Dollceanna Carter has been completed and given to her family some months ago.

Dr Henry said of this new group:

There is no immediate risk to patients. 

Dr Henry said Dr Nayagam has now advised that: “62 of the 91 patients who were assessed in phase 1 need to be followed up as a precaution”.

It means further concerns were identified in 68% of the cases reviewed. For some, Dr Henry is concerned that “the intended outcome was either not achieved or a different outcome occurred”.

Some of these children did see the expected results, but other “continuing clinical issues following surgery” are still in need of review. He did not give examples of complications which might have arisen.

Also, in some cases, the children were assessed during the review only shortly after their surgery, so it was thought necessary to redo this.

While Dr Henry did not name the surgeon at the centre of this controversy, it is known and has been previously reported to be Dr Connor Green.  He is understood to remain on extended leave from his post in CHI at Temple Street hospital.

CHI actions

Dr Henry did say, however, that there were “protracted legal discussions to get to this point” in the review. CHI has already taken some actions, he said, stressing: “I can assure you that robust measures were put in place to ensure the safety of children in this service.

“People haven’t been standing still waiting for part two to be complete. There is substantially safer governance in place in that hospital than at the time when those safety concerns were raised.” 

In a statement, the CHI CEO Lucy Nugent said: “I know that news like this will understandably cause worry and concern for families, and I want to acknowledge that sincerely.

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“CHI and our current 16 consultant orthopaedic surgeons are fully committed to supporting every element of the look-back process and to being open and transparent with families throughout. 

“I want to reassure parents and caregivers that safe orthopaedic care is delivered in CHI every day, by highly skilled and dedicated professionals whose priority is always the wellbeing of children.” 

Supports are available for the families who have been contacted. They have been given a dedicated telephone number, the HSE said.

It advised also if anyone who believes they may be affected or has any questions or concerns, they can contact Freephone 1800 807 050 (or call 00 353 1 240 8706 from outside Ireland).