Call for full inquiry into CHI and how they handle scoliosis treatment
Vivienne Clarke
Claire Cahill, the co-founder of the Scoliosis Advocacy Network, has called for a public inquiry into Children’s Health Ireland and how they have treated and handled children who live with scoliosis.
Ms Cahill told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that the latest report (from Hiqa) was “a damning report".
“I think it's just one report after many reports. I believe it should be the beginning and I, as a mother, I would like to see a public inquiry.
"As an advocate, I would like it to be a full public inquiry into CHI and how they have treated and handled children who live with scoliosis.”
Parents had no control, she said.
“You are relying on the hospital and that everybody in that system will work to keep your child safe and that means following medical device regulation, following all the different types of policies and procedures and best practice of the theatre, and ensuring things like infection rates are controlled.
"And after reading numerous reports, but especially Tuesday's, it does, you know, raise huge red flags about the clinical or indeed the lack of clinical governance in CHI.
“It puts parents in a very tricky position because our children need surgery, and unfortunately, we have to fight for that surgery. In my own son's case, he was told his surgery would happen before Easter. We went up on Thursday of last week, to be told there is no date.
“There is no timeframe. That is the reality. On the one hand, you are pushing for a surgery and on the other hand, you are actually quite nervous, because you start to question everything you know.
“"Have I been told everything I should know about this? Are things being done right? Is my child safe when I hand him over to his theatre? It adds an extra layer of stress on a family. And I think sometimes even families go into denial about it.
“They nearly do not believe that this could happen. What has happened in our Children's Hospital is scandalous and in an era of so much regulation, to think that this could happen, it really puts parents in a very difficult situation.
“I have always said that dealing with the actual hospital has been so much more stressful than dealing with a diagnosis of scoliosis in my child. It is the fight for treatment. You are told you will be brought in for surgery and it does not happen.
“Families believe their children are listed on a wait list and then they get in contact with the hospital, and they are not listed at all. These are ongoing issues, really basic things that could make a massive change in the way that our children are cared for, and they have been ignored time and time again.”
