
Mother of child who has hip surgery calls for confirmation if surgery was required
The mother of a child on whom bilateral hip surgery was performed is calling for reassurance for parents and confirmation from hospitals about whether surgery was required.
Áine Gladney-Knox, a Sinn Féin candidate for the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency in the last general election, told RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland that her son Archie was diagnosed with hip dysplasia when he was six months old and had bilateral pelvic operation in Crumlin hospital on the 19th of April 2022.
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Post surgery Archie had to be readmitted to hospital and undergo a blood transfusion and further surgery. 'He just screamed and screamed and screamed. That child went through absolute hell.
"He really, really went through a horrendous time and we didn't actually get home (from hospital) till the 4th of May.'
Ms Gladney-Knox said the last time Archie had an appointment was 'a year and a half ago' with no further appointment. 'They said as far as they were concerned that they were happy and they were going to leave him for a few years.'
Recently the family received a letter from Children's Health Ireland saying that an audit was being carried out on cases of hip dysplasia surgeries.
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'The letter for me was a bit wishy washy because I seen the letter and I just presumed it was like an audit they were doing on children, like it didn't break down what had actually happened.'
Ms Gladney-Knox said she went about her day and it wasn't until she heard about the issue from Pearse Doherty that she went back home, looked at the letter again and realised that Archie was one of those children.
'And that's when I actually sat at my kitchen table and cried my eyes out because I was like, if he is one of the children, after what he's after going through, like it would actually break me as a parent.
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'As a parent, you trust what they're telling you and you listen to what the doctors are saying and you go with what they recommend and that was it and it wasn't until this, now we're like, we still haven't heard a word from anybody, only this letter.
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'I'm coming home every day checking my letter box to see if there is an update. Is Archie one of these children? It's eating up every day here in this house.'
Ms Gladney-Knox said she was not at all reassured by the letter, if anything, it had made her more anxious. It had raised more questions and made her question herself and her judgement as a parent. 'We really need these answers. This has been a kick in the teeth. We want to know how long this is going to take. I want answers for my child.
'They have to get this right for all the families and all the children that are involved.'
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Government can hit NHS waiting times targets despite scepticism, says Reeves
The Chancellor has insisted the Government can hit its NHS waiting times targets despite scepticism from some leaders. Speaking after her spending review, Rachel Reeves said the Government was confident it could hit pledges set down by the Prime Minister last year. Sir Keir Starmer said in December the NHS will carry out 92% of routine operations within 18 weeks by March 2029. However, in March this year, the NHS waiting list for hospital treatment in England rose for the first time in seven months. The Times has also reported that internal Department of Health modelling shows the NHS is on course to hit only about 80% by the end of the parliament, with officials suggesting anything above that is overly optimistic. Asked about the pledge on Wednesday afternoon, Ms Reeves told reporters: 'We've already delivered around three-and-a-half million additional appointments since we came to office last July. 'Waiting lists are already down by 200,000 so we are confident that we can meet our plan for change commitments because of the 3% annual increase in funding for the National Health Service. 'On top of that of course, we're investing in capital spending in the NHS, including in more scanners, but also investment in the NHS digital app to make it easier for patients to access information, to book services, to take some of the costs out of the bureaucracy, as well in running our health service.' Earlier, the 3% increase in real terms for the health service per year in the spending review was welcomed by health leaders but there were warnings it is not enough. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents all health organisations, said the NHS funding boost was welcome, 'given the precarious state of public finances and will help the NHS to cope with rising demand from an aging population, often with multiple or more complex physical and mental health conditions'. But he warned 'difficult decisions will still need to be made as this additional £29 billion won't be enough to cover the increasing cost of new treatments, with staff pay likely to account for a large proportion of it'. He added: 'So, on its own, this won't guarantee that waiting time targets are met.' Mr Taylor said NHS leaders will need continued backing from the Government to redesign services and balance budgets. 'That means getting political backing when some services are redesigned or cut, including moving hospital services into the community and closer to people's homes as part of the Government's three shifts,' he said. He added that the 'flat settlement' from the Chancellor 'continues to leave a major shortfall in capital funding, and it also fails to lift the ban on private investment that is required to boost NHS capital funding'. There is currently an almost £14 billion maintenance backlog bill to repair NHS hospitals and buildings. Mr Taylor said those issues needed to be addressed in the upcoming national infrastructure strategy and 10-year plan for the health service. Government documents accompanying the spending review show that, on average, from 2023-24 to 2028-29, the NHS in England will receive 3% real terms growth in day-to-day spending, equivalent to a £29 billion real terms increase in annual budgets. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) budget will increase by £2.3 billion in real terms by 2029-30, compared with 2023-24, 'representing a more than 20% real terms increase by the end of the spending review period', the documents said. Overall, the figures suggest DHSC spending will rise 2.8%, though this is less than the average 3.6% in recent years. Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King's Fund charity, said the 2.8% average increase in DHSC spending – or 3% for day-to-day NHS spending – 'will have been hard-fought for in the spending round negotiations, despite still being lower than the historical average the NHS has received over recent years'. She added: 'We know there are already trade-offs happening in the NHS due to tight finances. 'The Chancellor said she wants the public to have an NHS there when they need it. 'It is hard to see how all the things she mentions: faster ambulance times; more GP appointments; and adequate mental health services and more; can be met on this settlement alone. 'Particularly when large parts of this additional funding will be absorbed by existing rising costs, such as the higher cost of medicines, which are currently being negotiated, and covering staff pay deals.' 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Daily Mail
an hour ago
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Doctor who failed to spot girl, 13, was suffering from sepsis and died days later will face no disciplinary sanction
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The duty registrar called Prof Thompson again at 8.30pm because of ongoing concerns over Martha's fever, but she was kept on the ward despite the continued presence of moderate to high-risk indicators and the absence of meaningful clinical improvement. Martha collapsed on August 30 and was moved to intensive care before she was transferred to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she died in the early hours of August 31. Announcing its conclusions on Wednesday, Mr Ince said: 'Professor Thompson has done everything possible to address his failings. 'The tribunal considered that the best way to repair any harm caused by his failings would be for him to continue to provide his specialist expertise at home and abroad. 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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Doctors told me I had anxiety and turned me away... now I'm bedridden
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She added: 'It's been really upsetting. I feel like I haven't been able to be a proper mum, I can't even lift her up. Without this money, I won't be able to live to see my little girl grow up. It's that simple really.' Ms Moore, who said she feels 'let down' by the medical professional who told her that her symptoms were anxiety, said: If someone had listened to me sooner, I might not have ended up where I am now' Rebecca added: 'Maisie's in bed almost all of the time, she's missing out on so much with our daughter. 'She (their daughter) doesn't understand why she can't be picked up and play with her mum. 'This money is so important to us as a family, because at the end of the day if we don't get it Maisie will eventually end up dying. That's the reality of it.' Ms Moore also said that she hopes that by sharing her heartbreaking story, she may inspire other individuals to advocate for themselves more when speaking to healthcare professionals. 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