Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We agree on a number of things here. We are all working on behalf of the children the Deputy has mentioned. We are all working to make sure we get answers to what has happened here. We have discussed this a number of times in the Chamber. We are all extremely concerned at the thought of a child having a surgery where that was not necessary. We can probably all point to somebody we know or who has come to us where they were recommended the surgery and did not go through with it or were recommended it and went through with it but it was not needed, or indeed where they needed the surgery. The issue we need to get to the bottom of is where surgeries were carried out on children where they were not needed, where injury was inflicted on young people where it simply was not needed. The most important thing we need to ascertain at the outset is the facts. That is why this review is taking place. I appreciate we all want to know the facts as quickly as possible but we do not have those yet. I know the Deputy is referring to parts of the report but it has not been published. The Minister has not seen the report. While it has been made very clear to her that she will have the report in the coming weeks, we do not yet have the absolute facts of the review that is taking place. We all have a responsibility in this Chamber to make sure that what we are talking about is based on facts and reports that are published.

It is also important to assure families where surgeries are taking place at the moment. We know there are children who do need surgery today. Revised procedures have been put in place and new protocols are in place. All surgeries are being assessed by a multidisciplinary team before any decision is being taken. Separate work is also being done which will follow through from the review to make sure absolute best and up-to-date practice, which is in place in other countries and should be in place here, is adhered to if any child is being put forward for these potential surgeries.

In terms of the overall numbers, we have to be careful. The figure of just over 2,200 young people does not suggest every single one of those young people had surgeries where they should not have had them. We have to be clear about that. It is important that these families have been written to and engaged with by CHI, but also by Cappagh. We know that 1,700 of these were with CHI and 500 of them were with Cappagh. Where there has not been follow-up in these instances, it is important that now begins. Many families where surgeries have taken place have had follow-ups, engagement and consultation with their consultants and their teams. For those who have not, there is a clear commitment that engagement and consultation will happen immediately.

As the Deputy said at the outset, of most importance is that we ascertain the facts. What has happened? What practices were followed? How many children were impacted? What do we need to do now? Above all and to the Deputy's point, how do we ensure that any follow-on support, including medical support, and any assistance that is needed by those families and children is provided immediately? However, we have to get to the bottom of this. We will have those facts, but we do not have them yet. We do not have the report. We know that the initial recommendation, as published by CHI in its statement this week, is the reason it sent the letters to families, ensuring that engagement starts immediately and we are not just waiting on the report. We need to have those facts and that information so that whatever practice is followed moving forward ensures this situation does not happen again and, above all, we can stand by the medical advice we are given when our children go into hospital and know that best practice is being applied in every case.

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