Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Reilly for raising this issue. I will ask Mr. Woods to come in in a moment but I want to say a few initial things in this regard. I have also been contacted by many parents in recent days who have told me of the excellent work done by Dr. McCarthy.

I do not believe I have met Dr. McCarthy directly but I have been given extremely positive feedback from parents of children he has seen. I understand that a pain specialist in Children's Health Ireland who operates between Crumlin and Temple Street will leave at the end of the year to take up a post abroad. The Deputy is dead right. It is not acceptable that parents have not been contacted. I have asked about this and have been assured that Children's Health Ireland is now in the process of contacting each of the families who attend the service to update them on the treatment plans for their children. A benefit of having Children's Health Ireland as one structure running our children's hospitals is that they are now working with pain specialists and clinical leads in paediatric anaesthesiology to see how Dr. McCarthy's patients can be appropriately reallocated to continue service. It will also advertise for a replacement post.

I will ask Mr. Woods if he has any further detail to add.