Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In response to Deputy Ó Murchú, I will follow up with the Minister for Health with regard to an update and timeline for the Drogheda department of psychiatry and the issue of nursing and other vacancies in the health service in the Louth-Meath area.

I thank Deputies Tóibín and Barry for raising the issue of Harvey, which was also raised in the House earlier today. I have received correspondence from Harvey's mother and I have responded. I have spoken to the chief executive of the HSE and the Minister for Health on the matter. The suffering of any child is something nobody wishes to see and I certainly do not wish to see it. What I can say is that I believe it is essential that a clinical appointment is arranged because it is a clinical matter as to whether surgery is the best way to proceed or whether there is a more appropriate way of providing care. I am not the clinician but I believe a further clinical appointment is the right way to proceed and I hope that happens. I am certainly in a position to facilitate that happening. My team has reached out and I have reached out by letter to Harvey's parents. My team are happy to be in contact with them on this matter, which I know is extraordinarily distressing for the family and, most of all, for Harvey.

On the broader point, I will certainly ask the question of the Minister for Health and the HSE as to whether anybody else was removed from the waiting lists. My understanding is that these are clinical decisions but regardless of whether they are clinical decisions, proper communication with parents is, of course, essential at all times.

On a separate and distinct point, there is now a clinical lead, Mr. David Moore, in this whole area of paediatric spinal surgery. It has been important to have that clinician perspective and I look forward to meeting him again shortly and with scoliosis advocacy groups at the start of next month. At that meeting, I will be happy to discuss the reports and any information that can be useful.

On the issue of insurance, the Deputy makes a fair point. I do not want to make a commitment on the floor of the House until I know that I can honour it but let me inquire on that point directly and come back to him.

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