Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Children's Health Ireland is a publicly-funded hospital group in disarray. We have had the ongoing issues with spinal surgeries, the shocking use of non-medical grade springs for scoliosis, which my colleagues mentioned so I will not go into it even though it is such an important issue, and the massive waiting lists. Later, we will discuss the large number of unnecessary hip surgeries, which again raises questions about clinical judgment and governance. Added to this, we have had alarmingly high infection rates in certain hospitals, which should never be allowed to happen.

We then have the IT systems issue. Protected whistleblower disclosures suggest, for example, that chemotherapy procedures for children at Crumlin are being cancelled because the IT system is totally inadequate, with on overdependence on dodgy Wi-Fi and no wired connection. Whistleblowers have also claimed that a failing Wi-Fi system over a number of weeks meant they had no PCs or printers to make and administer chemotherapy. This is shocking if it is true. We have also heard stories of surgeons at Temple Street and Crumlin children's hospitals routinely starting operations on children without the help of vital X-rays to guide them. Other allegations include staff being allowed to work without Garda vetting, a failing back-up PC in an intensive care unit at Temple Street children's hospital and, allegedly, a further 324 unresolved IT issues because of an IT dispute.

There is no training in infection control or the correct way to use PPE in some of these hospitals. There have been allegations of many other generally unsafe practices. These are allegations but they need to be thoroughly investigated as soon as possible. Even without these allegations, we already know that Children's Health Ireland is a total mess.

The acting chief executive and the interim deputy chief executive have both stepped down from their roles. Most recently, the chairman of the board of management resigned. The whole board needs to be reconstituted and management reassessed. This cannot be claimed as a Government achievement; it is a Government failure.

I congratulate the Minister on her appointment. She has a narrow window of opportunity to take meaningful action or else, as she will be aware, people will be calling for her resignation also. Hopefully, the Minister will take the bull by the horns. The issues are too serious to let this rot continue.

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