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Irish Times
21 hours ago
- General
- Irish Times
Doctors say they warned CHI of toxic behaviour by several senior medics
Management at Children's Health Ireland (CHI), the embattled State body which runs three children's hospitals, was warned repeatedly about toxic, bullying and disruptive behaviour by some senior staff, according to doctors who previously worked there. Several doctors contacted The Irish Times after publication yesterday of details about a CHI report on the toxic atmosphere in part of one of its hospitals. The report described a 'negative and toxic' work culture, in which multiple staff complained that 'unprofessional and disruptive behaviour from consultants' contributed to the undermining of care and treatment for sick children. Only a small number of CHI consultants were involved in the behaviour. [ Report reveals 'toxic culture' among consultants at CHI hospital Opens in new window ] Several doctors related their experience in the hospital concerned. READ MORE 'My personal experiences were of belittlement, undermining of professional judgment and ritual humiliation in front of other staff,' said one. 'They were not atypical of the other junior docs while I was there. We all adopted a get-the-head-down approach until our rotations ended.' Another person working as a consultant said they had been 'victim of the bullying and harassment by CHI consultants, more specifically one particular consultant in CHI, over a long period of time'. The person said that 'numerous complaints' had been made over many years to Children's Health Ireland management regarding one person in particular and about 'bullying behaviour'. Another confirmed 'toxic behaviour' by 'arrogant and abusive' senior colleagues. One doctor described how concerns for the safety of one junior colleague were ignored by a senior colleague who pretended not to know the junior colleague's name. The doctor also recounted being dismissed in sexist terms by a senior colleague after she brought concerns about possible sexual abuse of a patient to his notice. CHI, which is responsible for the governance and operation of the three paediatric hospitals in Dublin at Temple Street, Crumlin and Tallaght, and is due to take over the running of the new national children's hospital, has been plagued by scandal and controversy in recent months. A recent report found that most hip surgeries carried out on children were unnecessary. Before that, it emerged that devices not cleared for surgical use were inserted into children suffering from scoliosis, the management of which has been another long-running controversy. In a statement, CHI said: 'The examination in question was conducted at the end of 2021 in response to concerns and issues raised. The recommendations have been implemented and are ongoing. The issues have been addressed and the team in question are working well. 'Work on CHI's culture is ongoing,' it said CHI said there had been 'inaccurate media reporting in relation to NTPF payments to a consultant'. 'CHI can confirm that these clinics did not take place in the consultant's private rooms. They occurred in a public clinic, in one of its hospitals, on a Saturday. It was a waiting list initiative for an outpatient appointment only. 'The NTPF funded the hospital for this waiting list initiative and there was no charge to patients. This was over and above the Consultant's contractual hours. There are no direct payments to CHI staff from NTPF.' 'We regularly conduct internal reviews to ensure any issues are identified and addressed across our services. CHI is a learning organisation and service improvements through internal reviews and clinical audits, which are an essential tool to support this, will continue to be a priority. [ Revelations show appalling personal behaviour among some CHI medics Opens in new window ] 'A number of underlying concerns, service gaps and issues were identified in a CHI service in 2021/2022, which needed to be explored and understood in greater detail, to ensure supportive action and corrective measures could be put in place where required. 'This internal review report was presented to and discussed at [the] Board. The recommendations were accepted, implemented and continue to be implemented. All appropriate action was taken. 'Strong, collaborative leadership and consistent good governance are the foundation of running effective, efficient, and best in class services across CHI. There has been immense change under way across all CHI sites for the last number of years. The merging of processes, policies, practices and cultures presents the opportunity to make meaningful, strategic, and sustainable change, all with a view to delivering a world class paediatric healthcare service.'
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Report reveals ‘toxic culture' among consultants at CHI hospital
A 'negative and toxic' work culture at a hospital run by Children's Health Ireland (CHI), in which multiple staff complained of 'unprofessional and disruptive behaviour from consultants', contributed to the undermining of care and treatment for sick children, an internal report has found. The CHI report also noted one consultant had taken a legal action for defamation against another. The report, which also revealed possible misuse of the National Treatment Purchase Fund , was compiled in 2021-2022 but was only given to the Department of Health last Monday. It paints an astonishing picture of the work culture in parts of one of the best-known hospitals in the country, where relations between some staff and between some staff and management had deteriorated to the point where 'challenging behaviour appears to be the norm'. READ MORE 'Numerous participants expressed concern for the emotional and physical wellbeing of colleagues working in the service,' it said. In some cases, it identified where the work culture and the interpersonal difficulties which characterised some key relationships had led to shortcomings in the case of patients. 'Dysfunctional relationships played a significant part in leading to two ... cases both of which led to surgeries evolving with complications and ultimately children having prolonged recoveries,' it said. 'Feedback from participants all describing an environment and working life that is adversely impacted by the 'negative' and 'toxic' culture that exists in the department.' [ Revelations show appalling personal behaviour among some CHI medics Opens in new window ] While the report did not identify the staff members involved by name, it laid out in detail how a small number of people were involved. 'Across multiple participants there was one consultant identified consistently as creating a psychologically unsafe environment not conducive to learning,' it said. 'Two specific examples where this consultant's behaviour and actions reportedly had a significant impact on trainee careers and/or wellbeing were staunchly brought to the attention of this examination through participant interviews.' In some cases, the behaviour led to the departure of other staff members. Three members of staff who left one department in the hospital all said they left 'for one reason only – bullying'. Staff members – including some highly skilled medical professionals who were training for senior roles – said one consultant would 'punish and exclude you, belittle you and say you were no good. I felt fearful, felt unsafe to ask [the consultant] for help.' 'There's a lot of people who have come across [the consultant's] path and it has had a detrimental impact on their lives,' said another. After giving examples of one consultant's behaviour, the report noted: 'The above reflections from very personal experiences appear to highlight a pattern of abrupt, unprofessional, intimidating and volatile behaviour. 'Behaviours displayed by this consultant appear to be consistent with and reflective of conduct that has been identified as leading to and creating a psychologically unsafe environment, that is an environment where an individual feels they may be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns or mistakes.' The effect on trainees was especially acute, the report said, quoting one member of staff who said: 'Since I started I have been experiencing a lot of bullying/harassment mainly from two consultants ... I feel that I am working in a hostile environment, waiting to be victimised. I am subjected to humiliating and intimidating experiences. They are always undervaluing my performance. 'It has reached a stage that it is affecting my self-esteem, confidence and performance at work in hospital and also at home affecting my family life. The thought of doing on call with these consultants makes me so nervous and stressful.' CHI did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Two new appointments to Children's Health Ireland board after five resignations
The Minister for Health has appointed Dr Yvonne Traynor and Anne Carrigy to the board of Children's Health Ireland (CHI). The body, which operates paediatric healthcare in the State, has faced significant upheaval after four board members resigned over the past week. The board's chairman, Jim Browne, resigned last month. The resignations followed two reviews that highlighted issues within the group's paediatric orthopaedic units. One focused on three children with scoliosis who were implanted with non-surgical springs, while the other found the vast majority of surgeries for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in two hospitals were unnecessary. [ CHI consultant who allegedly referred public patients to his own weekend clinic faced no disciplinary action Opens in new window ] Another report, by UK expert Selvadurai Nayagam, into paediatric orthopaedic surgery services is ongoing. READ MORE Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill announced she would appoint two members of the HSE's board to the CHI board in a bid to strengthen governance and oversight in the organisation. The Minister said the appointments will 'further support the extensive transformation programme, led by CHI chief executive Lucy Nugent and her team, as we move to open the state-of-the-art children's hospital which will be Ireland's first digital public hospital'. Dr Traynor, who has been a HSE board member since 2019, was vice-president of regulatory and scientific affairs with Kerry Group. Before that, she held global and regional leadership positions with German consumer goods company, Henkel. [ Numbers working on children's hospital project dropped by third since January, politicians hear Opens in new window ] Ms Carrigy, who joined the HSE board in March 2021, previously worked as director of the HSE's serious incident management team. She later became the national lead of acute hospital services. Further appointments to fill vacancies on the CHI board will be made in due course, the Department of Health said. The Irish Times reported earlier this week that the Minister is considering subsuming CHI into the HSE following the recent controversies.
Irish Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Six years and several controversies in, the Government is losing its faith in CHI
In 2018, then minister for health Simon Harris issued a press statement expressing his delight at the passing through the Oireachtas of the Children's Health Bill, under which there would be a single statutory entity to run paediatric healthcare in the State – Children's Health Ireland (CHI). 'This is an extraordinary opportunity to transform paediatric services for children in Ireland and will improve the experience and outcomes for children and their families,' his statement said at the time. In January 2019, it assumed control of children's health services. But just over six years later, the controversies facing the body have continued to stack up – creating concerns that the experience and outcomes for children are not as good as they should be in some services. Many of the issues centre around the orthopaedic services. In 2017, concerns were raised about the length of time children with scoliosis and spina bifida were waiting for surgery. READ MORE It was pledged no child would wait four months for surgery by the end of that year. This promise has still not been met, and clinicians question the basis behind the four-month deadline. Then came concerns around the implantation of non-medical grade springs into three children with scoliosis and spina bifida. A report was commissioned and recently published by the Health Information Quality Authority (Hiqa), which found the springs were used without ethical approval, managerial approval or the informed consent of parents. It also highlighted governance issues in the hospital, stating a failure of controls meant 'children were not protected from the risk of harm'. Last week, an independent audit examining a three-year period was published which found 60 per cent of surgeries for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in Temple Street were not necessary, while 79 per cent of the procedures in National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh (NOHC) did not meet the clinical threshold for surgical intervention. [ Analysis: What's in the hip surgery audit and how much harm has been done? Opens in new window ] A further report, by UK expert Selvadurai Nayagam, is being conducted into paediatric orthopaedic surgery service at CHI Temple St, CHI Crumlin, the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh, and other relevant sites in Dublin following concerns around adverse outcomes. Most recently it emerged that an internal review at Crumlin hospital from 2021 found a consultant was allegedly referring public patients to his private clinics, which he runs separately. This, according to the Sunday Times, which first reported the findings of the review, delayed operations for sick children by up to three years, with the funding for some of these clinics coming from the National treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), which seeks to reduce hospital waiting lists. This inquiry was not sent to any senior Department of Health officials nor senior HSE officials, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said, adding that the review raises 'very, very, very serious considerations for me'. Lucy Nugent took up the role as chief executive of CHI in January, and all of the issues that have emerged in recent months predate her start. Steps have also been taken to improve services; the body has accepted all findings and recommendations of the reports published to date, and are outlining plans of how they intend to enact these recommendations. But as all of this is happening, CHI is due to take over the new National Children's Hospital when it opens to patients next year. Ms Nugent expressed confidence last week at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee that CHI would be able to commission the hospital once it is handed over to them. But given the hospital has already been beset by cost overruns and delays, it is no wonder concern abounds and serious consideration is being given about the way in which CHI will operate in the future.
BreakingNews.ie
27-05-2025
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Three board members of Children's Health Ireland resign
Three board members of Children's Health Ireland (CHI) have resigned, the Minister for Health has said. Jennifer Carroll MacNeill confirmed the resignations during an interview on RTÉ Radio. Advertisement It comes after several controversies involving CHI, including a report published on Friday that found many children underwent 'unnecessary' hip surgeries in two Dublin hospitals. The clinical audit of dysplasia of the hips surgeries in children found that a lower threshold for operations was used at CHI Temple Street hospital and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh (NOHC) than the threshold used at CHI Crumlin. The review discovered that in the period 2021 to 2023 almost 80 per cent of children operated on at the NOHC, and 60 per cent of those at Temple Street, did not meet the threshold for surgery. The 2,259 children who underwent hip surgeries in the three hospitals (NOHC, CHI Temple Street and CHI Crumlin) from as far back as 2010 will now be subject to clinical reviews. Advertisement Opposition TDs have called for a public inquiry and for CHI to be fully subsumed into the HSE. The CHI hospital group is a distinct entity from the HSE, although it is funded by the HSE and accountable to it. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said the hip dysplasia issue was a 'horrendous scandal' and there was a 'very fundamental problem of governance' in CHI. 'I think CHI is not fit for purpose as currently set up. I think that's kind of part of what a public inquiry needs to look at, but it needs to be quick.' Advertisement
