Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

As someone who worked for more than 21 years as a hospital administrator in a general hospital, I am lost for words to describe the mayhem which is Children's Health Ireland. The word "bewilderment" comes to mind. It is certainly shocking. The first principle of the provision of a health service is that the patient comes first. We might say that is old-fashioned but it is still 100% true. There has been a fundamental breach of trust here, which has not only not put the patient first but that has harmed patients, in this case children.

A series of reviews, reports, audits and investigations, including those undertaken by HIQA, the HSE and others, paint a picture of toxic, chaotic systemic failure at all levels. It has been at the level of governance, clinical oversight, procedures, breaches of procedures, breaches of guidelines and breaches of protocol. Putting children through the pain and suffering of surgery for developmental dysplasia of the hip that may not have been necessary in 70% of cases is simply unconscionable. The parents of these children are devastated and they have no confidence in the review process being proposed. They are rightly asking for a public inquiry and an independent clinical review by independent international paediatric orthopaedic surgeons. They are also demanding to be centrally involved in drawing up the terms of reference. The governance of the hospital must also be addressed and I believe the board must be stood down and the operation, control and governance of the hospital transferred to the HSE, which currently funds the hospital.

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