Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This morning,journal.ie reports that Ireland's only paediatric pain consultant, Dr. Kevin McCarthy, has handed in his notice and said that the service is completely unsustainable. He has been highlighting a number of issues for some months now. This issue was highlighted to the Minister for Health in October. This is an incredibly important service. Every year more than 75 new children access the service to the manage the most unimaginable pain. How has the Government allowed this situation to get to the point where parents are being left in the dark about treatment plans for their children and where Children's Health Ireland is saying it will try to fill the position next year? What will be done for parents whose children are in chronic pain now and why was this situation allowed to develop?

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