John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I take this opportunity to raise the case of a little girl from Wicklow, a constituency that I share with the Minister. Pearl Tamara O'Neill is a two year old child who is seriously ill. Pearl has had acute breathing problems since birth. She is still waiting to have a windpipe tube removed. Last month, Pearl's parents were delighted to receive an appointment for the procedure, which was to take place in Children's University Hospital, Temple Street. The appointment was cancelled. Pearl was given another date and that was followed by a further cancellation. In other words, two cancellations were made within the space of two weeks. The hospital staff did not ring Pearl's parents to inform them of the cancellations on both occasions, despite having told them that they would ring in advance of the appointment to confirm bed availability. Instead, Pearl's parents were told of the cancellations when they made the telephone calls. The cancellation was due to there being no beds available.

This is the case of a two-year-old child, a helpless little girl who is vitally in need of what I understand to be a simple procedure. In her condition, infections are highly likely since it is easy for something to get into her airway. She is under constant supervision by her parents in case of an emergency blockage. She is only recently out of hospital, having contracted pneumonia some weeks ago. Yet, like many children throughout the State, she has been left to wait and suffer. Of course, we know from the Minister's statement that Pearl is not even on a waiting list because she has an appointment. According to the Minister, if a patient has an appointment date, whether it is one week away or three months away, the patient is not waiting. I am not sure how he can come to that conclusion. Perhaps it is a case of alternative facts.

Meanwhile, Pearl is left struggling to breathe, eat and vocalise. Following her appearance on the "Six One News" programme, she has received a new appointment for next Sunday. I hope that will materialise, but it is appalling that a patient has to go on national television or the national news to try to get an appointment. The Minister said there should be no sugar-coating of these issues. The pain being endured by many thousands of children like Pearl amounts to an absolute disgrace. Parents are languishing while they wait on appointment dates, only to be told at the last minute that the appointments are cancelled because of a lack of beds. This is a shame. We cannot endure any sugar-coating of the facts. We need this pain and misery to end for thousands of children and their families throughout the State.

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