Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, is here before us today because this is a hugely serious issue. I recently received a heartfelt email from one of my constituents, a concerned mother whose child is a patient at Temple Street hospital. In her message, she expressed profound anxiety regarding her child's well-being. She conveyed her utmost appreciation for the surgeon who treated her child, describing him as honest, professional and transparent in explaining both the possibilities and the limitations of treatment. This mother's deepest concern lies in the lingering uncertainty surrounding the ongoing inquiry. She fears that her child, along with others in a similar situation, might slip through the cracks of the healthcare system. The surgery her child underwent has been truly transformative, offering a new lease on life. However, the child's journey is not yet complete as further surgery is required, and the only other specialist capable of performing it is located in the United States. In her poignant message, she expressed: "We are in total shock and dismay ... We don't know where to go for answers. We don't know what to do." These words capture the profound sense of helplessness and uncertainty she is experiencing, highlighting the urgent need for guidance and a resolution in this challenging situation.

The interests of patients and their families cannot be properly served until the full facts are known. We find ourselves in the midst of a deeply concerning paediatric spinal surgery controversy at CHI, a situation that has brought worry, trauma and anguish to the affected children and their parents. I fully support Amanda Santry's call for the review findings to be made public and endorse the need for a comprehensive investigation into the use of non-medical springs.

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