Taoiseach: 'Beyond comprehension' that unauthorised springs were used in children's spinal surgeries

It emerged two years ago one spinal surgeon had used non-medical devices in children being treated for scoliosis

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said what happened 'shouldn't have happened', adding there are 'set procedures' over medical devices, which were not followed. Picture: Leah Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

The Taoiseach has said it is "beyond comprehension" that unauthorised springs were used by a surgeon carrying out spinal operations on children.

A scathing Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) report found the use of non-medical devices was "wrong" and has raised issues with a lack of proper structures and a massive work burden placed on healthcare workers.

The review was commissioned in 2023 after it emerged one spinal surgeon had used non-medical devices in children being treated for scoliosis.

Micheál Martin said what happened "shouldn't have happened", adding there are "set procedures" over medical devices, which were not followed.

He told the Dáil the responsibility lies with the individual medic who did not follow an "entire protection framework".

Outlining the litany of failures contained in the report, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said Children's Health Ireland [CHI] was "not fit for purpose".

She asked the Taoiseach if he now had confidence in the board of CHI, pointing to the fact the chair resigned after the report was published.

"There has to be accountability all round, there has to be political accountability. The issue spans seven years, two health ministers, issues were raised many times at the very highest levels," she said.

Ms McDonald said Mr Martin must "take account" for the Government's failure to act.

Responding, Mr Martin said: "There is a limit to what anyone in this House can do in terms of how people conduct procedures and operating theatres, and let's call a spade a spade. We can be political about these things, but there are fundamental issues where that happened, that should not have happened."