PRIME MINISTER MICHÉAL MARTIN has resisted demands to dissolve the board of Children’s Health Ireland following a critical report on pediatric spinal procedures.
Martin informed the Dáil today that dissolving the board would result in additional problems and "further weaken governance."
Previously, the Labour Party demanded that the whole board resign following their call for the chair to step down. resigned and apologised the day before after Hiqua’s release report on the utilization of unauthorized springs for pediatric operations at Temple Street Hospital.
The Hiqa report discovered that governance modifications within Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) led to several policies and safety measures "not being correctly implemented" when dealing with the impacted children, which "caused the springs to be utilized improperly".
The Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik and the interim head of the Social Democrats, Cian O'Callaghan, both addressed this matter earlier today during Leader’s Questions in the Dáil.
Bacik also highlighted the individual situation of Daniel Collins, a 14-year-old boy suffering from severe scoliosis, who has been enduring pain while awaiting surgery for several months.
Regarding the usage of unauthorized springs, O'Callaghan pointed out that the Taoiseach has dismissed the idea of a public inquiry and stated this position.
Experiments involving medical procedures were carried out on kids at our principal children’s hospital. Caustic devices were placed within the bodies of these highly susceptible children.
No ethical clearance was obtained for utilizing these springs, and the families were not provided with informed consent regarding these procedures.
This occurrence was not an isolated event.
The long list of shortcomings raises serious doubts about whether Children's Health Ireland is adequate for its intended role.
When asked by Bacik whether the CHI board still has his trust, the Taoiseach responded:
I am aware that certain individuals have suggested dissolving the board; however, this action wouldn’t improve matters at all. It would actually diminish oversight even more and might result in additional problems and hurdles.
He mentioned that setting up a board was essential for selecting a new chairperson.
In response to calls for a public inquiry, the Taoiseach stated that the events disclosed in the Hiqua report were "incorrect" and "unfathomable."
"It is unimaginable that someone would use non-CE approved devices on a child. This is extremely difficult to understand and is simply unacceptable," stated the Taoiseach.
He stated that Ireland should "contemplate" if public inquiries represent the optimal approach for addressing matters of this nature.
Public inquiries come with significant costs; since 1998, over €500 million has been allocated to them. This raises ethical concerns about whether these funds might better serve current needs in areas like child health care, social welfare, and educational services.
He mentioned that numerous public investigations span several years and commented, "As a result, victims seeking inquiries often do not achieve closure."
Earlier today, Labour health spokesperson Marie Sherlock stated that she lacks confidence in the board’s ability to manage the substantial reforms required to ensure the safety of children going forward.
She stated that both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are trying to "minimize" the matter as merely "the acts of an individual surgeon".
The oversight of three children led to the HIQA report; however, upon thorough examination of the document, it becomes evident that the system was deficient, and the board did not fulfill its responsibilities.
Sherlock argued that it wouldn’t be sensible to establish a distinct board for CHI when the HSE will presumably need to exert considerably more operational supervision moving ahead.
This repetition doesn't add up.
The remarks were made only 24 hours after Sherlock declined to demand the board’s resignation, saying she wished to receive assurance from the health minister regarding their confidence in her leadership.
Yesterday, when questioned about Labour’s inability to develop its own stance on the board's future, Sherlock responded that her discussions with surgeons reveal a higher level of trust in the newly appointed CHI CEO.
"We aren’t certain yet that replacing the entire CHI board will bring about the required changes," Sherlock informed journalists at Leinster House this morning.
"In reality, we require the CHI board to take ownership of the necessary changes and proceed with implementing them," she said additionally.
Recommendations
The Hiqa review makes 19 suggestions, encompassing an organization-wide assessment of corporate and clinical governance at CHI "aimed at ensuring clear and efficient verification of safe, high-quality patient care".
The CHI board is tasked with overseeing the move to the new Children’s Hospital facility, however, Sherlock states that she lacks faith in their ability to adapt according to the comprehensive Hiqua guidelines.
Una Keightley from the Spina Bifida support organization informed RTE's Prime Time program that there isn't assurance the suggestions will be put into practice since previous reports were not followed through with.
The organization is demanding a public investigation into these matters because they feel there is a "significant gap in the governance and standards across CHI" which one review alone would be unable to address.
The mandatory review conducted by Hiqa was commissioned in 2023 following reports that unmarked metal springs were surgically placed in several children during spinal operations at CHI at Temple Street.
The consultant involved in the review was sent to the Irish Medical Council following two severe incidents during pediatric spinal surgeries, one of which resulted in a child's death.
The HIQA review spans the time frame from November 2018, when using the springs was initially contemplated as a potential therapy for several kids at Temple Street Hospital, until July 2023, when an internal confirmation by CHI revealed that the springs inserted into numerous children during spinal surgeries between 2020 and 2022 lacked CE certification.