Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First of all, like my colleagues, my thoughts are with the parents of any child who has to undergo surgery. I know that planning and getting a child ready for surgery is a huge challenge in itself for every parent. It is really difficult for any family when children have to go through a multiplicity of operations and surgery. They all need our full support. The major problem we now have is that even where surgery has been successful, parents now require reassurance. It is difficult to get that message out there. Hugely successful operations have been performed, but there is now a doubt in people's minds, and in parents' minds in particular. It is something about which they will always worry. It becomes frightening when you look at the report that was published. An analysis of 16 case files shows that 13 of the 16 patients, or 81.2%, required further unplanned surgery. The internal analysis shows that the overall infection rate in these 16 cases was 73.4%, based on microbiology and clinical findings. The overall rate of wound complication requiring further surgery was 75%. Overall, nine of the 16 cases had mechanical complications requiring removal of metal work. Those are frightening figures in real terms for the families and for all those involved. It is important we now work in the fastest way possible to reassure parents and make sure we do not have a repetition of what occurred here. We have had two reviews, one internal and one external. I know an external review is going to be started.

It is important that everyone be involved and reassured that every possible angle will be considered and that there be no doubt that the final report, when produced, will be comprehensive and deal with all the issues.

What is challenging in this whole debate is the fact that uncertified devices, springs, were used that had not got clearance and had not been approved. It is really worrying that this has occurred, leading to many of the complications.

It is important, however, to realise that much work has been done by very dedicated and committed staff in all our hospitals, especially Temple Street. The number of operations for scoliosis in 2019 was 380. In 2022, it was 509, which is ten operations per week. It is important to have no more of the delays the parents and children had to experience and that every possible effort be made to find an alternative. It is important to have the expertise, even if we need to get more people in from abroad. I am sure there are people with the expertise whom we can recruit. Now is the time to do it. We cannot allow postponements of operations ad infinitum. The sooner we can deal with this issue and produce the report to give reassurance, the better. It is important that we acknowledge that the vast majority of staff in all our hospitals are committed and dedicated and that they will provide the best possible care. Doubt has been created by what has occurred, so it is important that we be in a position to reassure parents and children at the earliest possible date.

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