March organised to highlight Harvey Morrison Sherratt's death and surgery crisis

Irish Daily Mirror

2 days ago

A demonstration march is to be held in Dublin city in memory of Harvey Morrison Sherratt (9), who died from a sudden illness last month, after he had waited several years for spinal surgery.
The protest, which will also highlight scandalous persistent prolonged children's spinal surgery waiting lists, is due to start at 2pm, August 23, at the Garden of Remembrance, and finish at Customs House Quay.
Harvey Sherratt's parents, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, who both tirelessly sought Harvey's surgery to correct scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, are to attend the demonstration which is expected to be one of the biggest ever in the capital city.
"We would appreciate if you all could join us as we march in protest for #JusticeForHarvey," Ms Sherratt posted on X.
In an interview with this reporter, Gillian Sherratt said she and her husband "will not stop" campaigning for adequate healthcare for children, particularly for those who urgently require it.
"We're not going to go away," said Ms Sherratt.
Asked what she wanted Harvey's legacy to be, Ms Sherratt replied: "It literally should be for these children to get the care that they are entitled to, and that they bloody deserve."
Disability rights campaigner, Bernard Mulvany, opened a GoFundMe account to raise funds to stage the 'Justice For Harvey' demonstration on August 23.
"Any outstanding funds (will be) given over to Harvey's family for them to administrate. Please help us to celebrate Harvey's life and to shine a light on how he and many other children in our society are being failed," Mr Mulvany said.
Donations can be made here.
Gillian Sherratt called on the Taoiseach Micheál Martin to "recall the Dáil" from its summer recess early to debate the ongoing crisis in children's spinal surgery.
Ms Sherratt called on Mr Martin to support her and her husband's call for a public inquiry into governance of orthopaedic services at CHI. Taoiseach Micheal Martin
Ms Sherratt and Mr Morrison called on Tanaiste and leader of the Fine Gael party, Simon Harris, to resign over the debacle.
In 2017, when he was serving as Minister for Health, Mr Harris said he was "ashamed" of the prolonged waiting lists, and he pledged that "no child" would wait longer than four months for scoliosis surgery.
Harvey Sherratt waited seven years for his spinal surgery, including 33 months on and off an active waiting list.
Despite Mr Harris's failed 2017 health pledge, as well as his predecessors, ex-Fianna Fáil TD Stephen Donnelly, and current health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, also pledging to tackle the scoliosis scandal, dozens of children continue to wait more than four months for spinal surgery.
Near the end, wheelchair-bound Harvey, from Clondalkin, Dublin, could no longer sit for any long periods in his chair, as scoliosis twisted his ribcage, putting pressure on his heart and lungs. Harvey Sherratt's parents Stephen Morrison and Gillian Sherratt have taken to social media after their son Harvey was removed from the waiting list
In February 2024, 17 months prior to Harvey's death, his father explained that the curvature on his son's spine had extended so much he was at increased risk of death unless he received a timely surgical intervention.
Desperate to highlight his son's ordeal then, Mr Sherratt pleaded for his son's surgery and said: "Harvey will die. He absolutely needs the surgery."
Six months later, in August 2024, Harvey's mother discovered that despite their public calls for Harvey's surgery, her deteriorating son was inexplicably no longer on CHI's active surgery waiting list.
Then the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil party leader Micheál Martin, described Harvey's disappearance from the waiting list without his parents' consent or knowledge was "shocking" and "not good enough", and he said CHI should "apologise" to Harvey's family "and arrange a surgery".
Harvey eventually had his spinal surgery in December 2024, eight years after his parents were first informed by a consultant surgeon that Harvey would require the operation to prevent his spine crushing his ribcage and killing him.
Gillian Sherratt said that by the time Harvey actually had his surgery, his spinal curve was so extended it could not be fully corrected, nevertheless the surgery helped provide Harvey with an additional eight months of life.
The boy's health suddenly deteriorated two and half weeks ago and he died on July 29.
Harvey's death refocused the spotlight on the scoliosis waiting list scandal and concerns expressed by Harvey's parents, as well as scoliosis and spina bifida advocacy groups, around governance at CHI.
Gillian Sherratt said that more children, like Harvey, who have "complex" health issues and require "timely access" to surgery are still not receiving adequate treatment at CHI.
According to latest data published by CHI, 74 children were waiting longer than four months for spinal surgery, as of the end of July.
A further 57 children were waiting up to three months. One child was waiting more than four years.
Out of a total of 231 children waiting for spinal surgery nationally, 131 children were on CHI's "active" surgery waiting list, previously occupied by Harvey Sherratt before his name disappeared from the list without explanation.
In response to calls to resign, the Tanaiste, Simon Harris, said he did previously make representations on Harvey Sherratt's behalf to the Department of Health and to CHI, but, he said, he had always maintained that any medical intervention would have to be clinician-led.
A spokesperson for Mr Harris said the Fine Gael leader had spoken to Gillian Sherratt and they were planning on meeting soon.
The Tánaiste's spokeswoman said Mr Harris had also sought, through Minister MacNeill, a full multidisciplinary report on the timeline of care provided to Harvey.
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