Latest news with #Gillian Sherratt
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Tánaiste agrees to meet parents of boy who died after long wait for scoliosis surgery
Tánaiste Simon Harris will meet the family of Harvey Morrison Sherratt (9), who died in recent weeks following years of suffering due to spina bifida and scoliosis. He had been subject to delays in accessing urgent scoliosis surgery, during which time he experienced significant pain and a reduced quality of life. He underwent surgery at the end of last year. Advertisement He died on July 29th, although no cause of death has been established, his mother said in a post on X last week. Harvey's parents, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison from Clondalkin in Dublin, have been leading a social-media campaign calling for the resignation of Mr Harris following their son's death. 18.09.2024 Stephen Morrison and Gillian Sherratt. Photo Shows : Stephen Morrison and Gillian Sherratt whose son Harvey aged three who is now eight years old and is still waiting for spinal surgery, pictured outside Leinster House today after attending the First Day of the Dail. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos In 2017, when he was minister for health, Mr Harris pledged that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis surgery by the end of that year. In a post on X, Ms Sherratt called on the Tánaiste to think 'as a parent of young children'. 'While you create memories with your children, I think about how memories are all we have left, and any future memories made will always have a void. While you kiss them goodbye for the day, I think about when I kissed Harvey goodbye for the last time,' her post said. Advertisement Mr Morrison said his son was 'unique', but said 'what isn't unique is the way he and other children and people with disabilities are being failed. It is up to us to stop it.' By the time Harvey had his surgery, his spinal curve had reached the point where it could not be fully corrected. While he spent years on a waiting list, his spinal curve caused his rib cage to twist around his lungs and heart, severely restricting his breathing. A spokesman for Mr Harris said the Tánaiste had spoken to Ms Sherratt, Harvey's mother, on Wednesday and they 'have agreed to meet in the near future'. Advertisement 'The Tánaiste has also sought, through the Minister for Health, a full multidisciplinary report on the timeline of care provided to Harvey.' Opposition politicians joined Harvey's mother and father in calling for the Fine Gael leader's resignation, further criticising Mr Harris for so far failing to meet his parents. Asked if he stood by his party leader on Wednesday, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said Mr Harris has a commitment to supporting families dealing with scoliosis. 'Minister Harris, as minister and then as taoiseach and Tánaiste, when he became aware of the needs of the particular family in question here, did all he could in terms of engaging with the Department of Health, in terms of engaging with the HSE, and I'm very conscious that we have a family who have lost a loved one who are grieving at the moment, and we have to respect that and allow them to make the points that they believe are important. Advertisement 'But alongside that, Simon and the Government have placed huge focus on how we support young children with scoliosis. 'We always want to do more. We always want to make more progress. But additional resources, additional clinical support and operating theatres have all been made available to focus in on supporting those children.' Ireland State 'completely failed' boy (9) who died after w... Read More He added: 'Those who are waiting for care have seen a reduction in how long they're waiting. 'We're seeing a reduction in the number of people on the waiting list. 'But we know we need to do more, and we will always continue to prioritise this as a vital health issue.' Pressed on whether Mr Harris should be accountable for failures to meet the commitment to cut waiting lists to four months, and resign, Mr Donohoe said: 'We're all accountable through the appearances that we make in front of the Dáil, the questions we deal with in relation to matters of health or any aspect of public policy.'
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Family of recently deceased boy Harvey Morrison Sherratt to meet Simon Harris
Tánaiste Simon Harris will meet the family of Harvey Morrison Sherratt (9) who died in recent weeks following years of suffering due to spina bifida and scoliosis. . He had been subject to delays in accessing urgent scoliosis surgery, during which time he experienced significant pain and a reduced quality of life. He underwent surgery at the end of last year. He died on July 29th, although no cause of death has been established, his mother said in a post on X last week. READ MORE Harvey's parents Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, from Clondalkin in Dublin, have been leading a social-media campaign calling for the resignation of Mr Harris following their son's death. In 2017, when he was minister for health, Mr Harris pledged that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis surgery by the end of that year. In a post on X, Ms Sherratt called on the Tánaiste to think 'as a parent of young children'. 'While you create memories with your children, I think about how memories are all we have left, and any future memories made will always have a void. While you kiss them goodbye for the day, I think about when I kissed Harvey goodbye for the last time,' her post said. Mr Morrison said his son was 'unique', but said 'what isn't unique is the way he and other children and people with disabilities are being failed. It is up to us to stop it.' They have called for a statutory inquiry into the handling of scoliosis in Ireland. Harvey Morrison Sherratt's parents Stephen Morrison and Gillian Sherratt have called for a statutory inquiry into the handling of scoliosis in Ireland. Photograph: Collins It emerged last year that Harvey had been removed from Children's Health Ireland 's (CHI) urgent scoliosis surgery waiting list, without his family being informed. CHI was contacted for comment. It previously said it could not comment on individual cases but that waiting lists are 'constantly changing, as children and young people have their surgeries and come off the list, new patients are added'. 'Important progress is being made every month,' it said. A spokesman for Mr Harris said the Tánaiste had spoken to Ms Sherratt, Harvey's mother, on Wednesday and they 'have agreed to meet in the near future'. 'The Tánaiste has also sought, through the Minister for Health, a full multidisciplinary report on the timeline of care provided to Harvey.' During a visit to Clonmel, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said Mr Harris 'did all he could' when he became aware of the needs of the family 'in terms of engaging with the Department of Health and HSE'. 'I am very conscious that we have a family who have lost a loved one, and are grieving at the moment. They have had such a difficult experience and we have to respect that, and to allow them to make the points that they believe are important,' he said. 'There are still families who need more support, there is still more progress that we need to make.' Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane said the 'tragic and avoidable passing of Harvey Morrison Sherratt must bring an end to the neglect of children with significant medical needs'. 'Despite the commitment made in 2017 by Simon Harris that no child would wait longer than four months for scoliosis surgery by the end of that year, as of July there are still 38 children waiting longer than six months just for an appointment date.' Speaking to RTÉ on Wednesday, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín called for Mr Harris to resign over his handling of the case.
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
State ‘completely failed' boy (9) who died after waiting for scoliosis surgery
The State has 'completely failed' a nine-year-old-boy who died in July, Mary Lou McDonald has said. Harvey Morrison Sherratt, who suffered from scoliosis, died on July 29th. Advertisement His parents Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison learned last August that Harvey had been removed from Children Health Ireland's (CHI) scoliosis waiting list without their knowledge. After they publicly raised their son's case, Harvey, from Clondalkin, received spinal surgery last December after waiting for years. By then, his spinal curve had reached the point where it could not be fully corrected. While he spent years on a waiting list, his spinal curve caused his rib cage to twist around his lungs and heart, severely restricting his breathing. Advertisement Tánaiste Simon Harris made a pledge in 2017 as minister for health that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis treatment. Harvey's parents have now called for his resignation. Sinn Féin president Ms McDonald said she raised the case with Mr Harris in the Dáil on September 18th, 2024. In a letter to Mr Harris, dated August 11th, Ms McDonald said: 'At that time, you assured me that you would meet with Harvey's parents, Gillian and Stephen, to discuss their son's urgent medical situation. Regrettably, and without explanation, that meeting never took place. Advertisement 'As you will recall, Harvey was suffering from spina bifida and life-threatening scoliosis. 'This young child moved the hearts of the nation when a video of him struggling to breathe was widely shared. 'His parents fought tirelessly to have him returned to the active waiting list after he was inexplicably and without notification removed from it.' Ms McDonald said that following Harvey's surgery last year, his improvement was remarkable. Advertisement 'His breathing improved, and he began eating solid food for the first time in six years,' she added. 'However, by the time these operations took place, the curvature of his spine was so severe that the outcome was tragically limited compared to what could have been achieved had timely intervention been provided, as per your own stated four-month target.' Tánaiste Simon Harris as health minister pledged in 2017 that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis treatment. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Ms McDonald added: 'The State has completely failed this bravest, strongest and most courageous boy and his family, first by the intolerable delays in his treatment, and then by your failure to follow through on a commitment made directly to me, and by extension, to them. 'This inaction is both shameful and unacceptable. Advertisement 'His parents, Gillian and Stephen, demand and deserve an explanation from you as to why you did not take or make the time to meet them, as you promised. 'Considering their unimaginable loss, the least they are owed from you is an honest account of why this promise was broken, and I urge you to meet with them both even at this stage. Ireland Parents of boy who died with severe scoliosis pled... Read More 'Moreover, they will continue to campaign for all those other children who continue to wait on urgent surgery, and we too in Sinn Féin will continue to advocate for them and hold you and your Government to account in this regard.' On Monday, Mr Harris said that after Harvey's case was brought to his attention, he contacted that Department of Health and CHI. He said he sought additional clinical consultations that appropriate clinical care was given.
