Parents 'pouring their hearts out' for medical records of children in spinal surgery cases

The court heard parents 'get back a generic response saying it will take 10 to 12 weeks'

Counsel for CHI, Oonah McCrann SC, said Temple Street Hospital will do everything in its power to provide medical records to parents in a timely fashion and its office was working flat out on the matter. File photo: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Parents with children caught up in the spinal surgery controversy at Temple Street Hospital are “pouring their hearts out” in requests for medical records and have been told it will take 10 to 12 weeks, the High Court has heard.

Mr Justice Brian Cregan was told by counsel representing a six-year old boy who went to court to get his records that these are desperate people who require the human touch rather than a generic response.

The court heard on Friday that the parents of the six-year-old boy Luke Ryan from Dublin who had asked the High Court to intervene in relation to his medical records was sent the records on Wednesday evening.

Karl Sweeney BL, instructed by Raymond Bradley of Malcomson Law, told the court the law firm, which acts for a number of children who are taking action against Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) in relation to the alleged adverse effects of spinal surgery at the Dublin city hospital are seeing a similar pattern to Luke’s case over medical records requests.

He said parents “get back a generic response saying it will take 10 to 12 weeks.” The children involved, counsel said, are just as bad or in a worse situation than Luke.

“We accept there is a system in place, but parents are pouring their hearts out in emails. These are desperate people who require the human touch rather than a generic response," counsel said.

Counsel for CHI, Oonah McCrann SC, said the hospital will do everything in its power to provide medical records to parents in a timely fashion and its office was working flat out on the matter.

Mr Justice Cregan said parents can apply to the court and the High Court will “do it, one case at a time.” 

The medical records had been sought in the case of Luke Ryan who is the last of three children to still have an alleged unauthorised spring device in his spine from his surgery at the hospital three years ago. The parents needed the records so the family can get expert second opinion on whether to reposition or remove the spring. 

Ms McCrann for CHI told the court on Friday that the records were made available to the boy’s solicitors on Wednesday evening and she re-iterated the apology from Children’s Health Ireland CEO, Eilish Hardiman, in relation to the delay and “certain miscommunications” in regard to the provision of the records to date.

Counsel said ancillary data sought by Luke’s side such as emails will also be made available by the hospital within the required time which is October 21 next. The case will come back before the court on October 20 next.