Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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350. To ask the Minister for Health when he became aware that 2,260 families had been contacted as a result of the early recommendation from the audit into the unnecessary hip surgeries scandal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26417/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As the deputy is aware, a clinical audit has been conducted by an external international expert on surgery for children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) across CHI and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh (NOHC).

CHI and NOHC have issued letters in recent weeks to families and patients who had hip dysplasia procedures since 2010 to provide reassurance and information about the audit and to ensure all potential cases were included.

I was aware letters were being issued, with the number issued being subject to refinements due to clinical review. On the 13th of May, I asked for CHI and NOHC to make the numbers of letters sent to patients/parents/families of children who had surgical procedures for DDH, publicly available. It was confirmed to me on the 14th of May that a total of 2,259 letters were issued. 1,757 from CHI and 502 from NOHC.