Government calls on CHI to publish reviews into Temple Street spinal surgeries

Simon Coveney said the Government believes it is “not good enough” that CHI only published its own interpretation of both reviews

A general view of Irish children's hospital Temple Street Hospital in Dublin. An external review into spinal surgery at the children's hospital has been ordered by the Health Service Executive (HSE) following a number of poor outcomes including the death of a child. It follows the publication of a Children's Health Ireland (CHI) report on spinal surgery for spina bifida patients at Temple Street Hospital. Picture date: Monday September 18, 2023.

The Government has insisted that Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) publish in full its internal review into spinal surgeries at Temple Street hospital.

Speaking in the Dáil, Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney said he is expecting CHI to publish two reviews on Wednesday following concerns about spinal surgeries. One report is by Boston Children’s Hospital and the other is CHI’s own internal review.

He said the Government believes it is “not good enough” that CHI only published its own interpretation of both reviews.

“There have been two key reports by CHI,” Mr Coveney said.

“One internal and one external activated by Boston Children's Hospital, neither has been published. Instead, CHI published a combined report which is CHI's interpretation of the two reports. I don’t believe that’s good enough nor does the Government.

“The Government has insisted that CHI publish both reports in full and they will do so I hope as soon as today.” 

Mr Coveney was responding to calls by Opposition TDs for Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to return from New York to address that matter in the Dáil.

Mr Coveney said it is his understanding that Mr Donnelly will take questions in the Dáil about what has emerged next Tuesday.

Speaking in the Dáil, Social Democrats TD Roisin Shorthall said what has emerged is a “national scandal.” She called for complete transparency for families who are impacted by the revelations.

Mr Coveney said he wanted to extend his sympathy to patients and the families but he knows they are not looking for sympathy and want answers.

“Some of the parents that I've heard speak on the media in the last 48 hours use terms like sickened and disgusted, angry but perhaps most importantly frightened in terms of the treatments that their children may have received,” Mr Coveney told the Dáil.

“And we have an obligation to as comprehensively as we can put all of the information in the public domain and to work with families to make sure that we forge a way forward that gives reassurance.” 

He said a comprehensive patient safety review is underway by the HSE and at Temple Street into pediatric orthopedic surgery service there. 

He also noted that the HSE has commissioned a UK expert from Liverpool to lead an external review following the identification of a number of specific clinical and patient safety concerns relating to outcomes of complex spine surgery.