Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

My immediate priority following the publication of the Thomas audit on 23 May 2025 was to ensure there was clinical follow-up and care for patients who had undergone pelvic osteotomy surgery. This is a once-off review to assess any complications that may exist and to determine the current clinical state. After this, patients then enter the recommended normal follow-up process. These multidisciplinary team, MDT, clinics have been under way since 6 June for clinical reviews of patients who had osteotomy surgery in CHI at Temple Street and Cappagh. As of Tuesday, 21 September, a total of 196 patients have had clinical reviews as part of the MDT clinics in both CHI and Cappagh.

In relation to retrospective reviews of cases to determine the indications for surgery, as the Deputy is aware, the HSE is establishing a separate process involving external experts. Work to establish that external expert panel is advancing. It is expected that panel will be established this month and the review of individual cases will commence in January 2026. These are international clinical experts. We are trying to establish them to have the availability to do the work here - it takes a little time simply to have their availability - and for them to agree a robust and scientific methodological framework for conducting the review, which will be designed by them between September and December this year, by which everything can be measured.

The HSE has also committed to the involvement of parents and patient advocates in the terms of reference for the review. We had a workshop to discuss the external expert panel with them on 14 August. A further workshop took place on 13 September, with a further workshop planned for today.

Separately, it is my intention to communicate with all of the parents who are not necessarily part of the advocacy group representing parents, recognising that they may not wish to be part of it but also to make sure they have the opportunity to feed into perspectives, should they wish.

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