Latest news with #JusticeForHarvey
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
March organised to highlight Harvey Morrison Sherratt's death and surgery crisis
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. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Parents of boy, 9, who died while waiting for life-saving op to take to Dublin streets in protest & make march plea
A DEMONSTRATION march is to be held in Dublin city in memory of Harvey Morrison Sherratt. The youngster sadly died from a sudden illness last month after he had waited several years for spinal surgery. 4 Stephen Morrison with his son Harvey, who sadly died last month Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin 4 Harvey had waited seven years for his spinal surgery 4 A protest in the capital is due to be held in Harvey's memory Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin The protest, which will also highlight the prolonged children's spinal surgery waiting lists scandal, is due to start at 2pm on August 23, and will run from the Garden of Remembrance to Customs House Quay. Harvey's parents, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, who both fought tirelessly for the nine-year-old's scoliosis surgery to correct a severe curvature in his spine, are to attend the demo, which is expected to be one of the biggest ever in the capital. In a post on X, Gillian said: 'We would appreciate if you all could join us as we march in protest for #JusticeForHarvey." She previously said she and her husband 'will not stop' campaigning for adequate healthcare for children, particularly for those who urgently require it. She vowed: 'We're not going to go away.' 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' march. He said: '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.' Gillian Sherratt called on the Taoiseach Micheal Martin to 'recall the Dail' from its summer recess early, to debate the ongoing crisis in children's spinal surgery. Harvey's parents also want the Fianna Fail leader to support their call for a public inquiry into governance of orthopaedic services at CHI. Harvey Sherratt's parents branded Taoiseach's comment on case 'slap in face' The parents have revealed that after calling for the resignation of Tanaiste Simon Harris, the Fine Gael leader has since promised to meet the couple. In 2017, when he was serving as Health Minister, Tanaiste 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 waited seven years for his spinal surgery, including 33 months on and off an active waiting list. Despite Deputy Harris's failed 2017 health vow, as well as his successors - 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. "We're not going to go away.' Gillian Sherratt 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. In February 2024, seventeen months prior to Harvey's death, his father explained that the curvature on his son's spine had extended so much that 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.' 'NOT GOOD ENOUGH' 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. At the time, Taoiseach Martin described Harvey's disappearance from the waiting list without his parents consent or knowledge as 'shocking' and 'not good enough'. He also said CHI should 'apologise' to Harvey's family 'and arrange a surgery'. TRAGIC PASSING Harvey eventually had his spinal surgery in December 2024. But Gillian said that by the time Harvey actually had his surgery, his spinal curve was so extended it could not be fully corrected. The boy's health suddenly deteriorated two and half weeks ago and he died on July 29. 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.
Sunday World
a day ago
- Health
- Sunday World
Protest march highlighting death of Harvey Sherratt (9) and spinal surgery crisis to take place in Dublin
DEMONSTRATION | 'We're not going to go away,' said Ms Sherratt. Gillian Sheratt and Stephen Morrison with their son Harvey Sherratt when he was aged 3. Picture: Gerry Mooney 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 23rd. Gillian Sheratt and Stephen Morrison with their son Harvey Sherratt when he was aged 3. Picture: Gerry Mooney News in 90 Seconds - August 15th '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 via utm_campaign=natman_sharesheet_dash&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&attribution_id=sl:aecc7c47-22ef-4b60 ba6e-4abdcffb8a4f 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. 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. Read more In February 2024, seventeen 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 29th. 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.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Demonstration planned in Dublin to highlight boy's death and spinal surgery crisis
A demonstration march is to be held in Dublin city centre 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 prolonged children's spinal surgery waiting lists, is due to start at 2pm on Saturday, August 23rd, at the Garden of Remembrance, and finish at Custom House Quay. Advertisement Harvey Sherratt's parents, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, will attend the demonstration. '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. Advertisement 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 page to raise funds to stage the 'Justice For Harvey' demonstration on August 23rd. '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. Ms 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. Advertisement She asked Mr Martin to support her and her husband's call for a public inquiry into governance of orthopaedic services at Children's Health Ireland (CHI). Ms Sherratt and Mr Morrison also called on the Tánaiste and leader of Fine Gael, 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 pledged that 'no child' would wait longer than four months for scoliosis surgery. Harvey waited seven years for his spinal surgery, including 33 months on and off an active waiting list. Advertisement Despite Mr Harris's failed 2017 health pledge, as well as his successors in the role, 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. In February 2024, seventeen 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.' Advertisement 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-a-half weeks ago and he died on July 29th. Harvey's death refocused the spotlight on the scoliosis waiting list and concerns expressed by Harvey's parents, as well as scoliosis and spina bifida advocacy groups, around governance at CHI. Ms Sherratt said other 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. Ireland Simon Harris 'did all he could' on child scoliosis... Read More 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 before his name disappeared from the list without explanation. In response to calls to resign, the Tánaiste 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 Ms 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.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Issue will dog the Tánaiste as long as children wait over four months for scoliosis surgery
If you have spent any time on the social media platform X in the last week or so, you will have no doubt noticed one of two topics which have trended in Ireland for a number of days. If you didn't see #JusticeForHarvey, you may well have seen #ResignHarris, both of which centre on Harvey Morrison Sherratt, who died at the end of July. He had received spinal surgery for scoliosis last December, by which point his spine had reached a curvature of 130 degrees. He had waited for years for surgery and became a focus of media and political campaigns which focused on a pledge in 2017 by then-health minister Simon Harris that no child will be waiting longer than four months for their scoliosis surgery in Ireland. In the wake of Harvey's death, his parents Gillian and Stephen have called for Mr Harris to resign, garnering support online where a petition gained around 8,000 signatures. Stephen Morrison and Gillian Sherratt, the parents of Harvey Morrison Sherratt, have called for Simon Harris to resign. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos Asked by the Irish Examiner on Monday if he felt either he or the State had failed Harvey, Mr Harris said when the boy's case was raised with him in the Dáil last September, he had contacted the Department of Health and Children's Health Ireland (CHI). "Firstly, I want to extend, in a very sincere way, my deepest sympathies to the family of Harvey and I don't wish to say anything to cut across their grief. "When this issue was brought to my attention during my time as taoiseach, I remember being very concerned about making sure that proper clinical interventions and consultations were made available. "And when Harvey's case was brought to my attention, I immediately contacted the Department of Health and CHI and sought additional clinical consultations, which I believe did take place. I was always of the view that it was very important that any medical interventions were, of course, clinician-led." During that same press conference, Mr Harris rejected the idea that he had committed to meeting with Harvey's parents, who were in the Dáil gallery as Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald raised Harvey's case. "I looked back at my commitments in the Dá I'd encourage you to do likewise. And I said I would be making sure that clinical advice was sought and that the appropriate clinical care was given." The transcript from that September sitting of the Dáil quotes Mr Harris, then Taoiseach, as saying he would meet with advocacy groups alongside then-health minister Stephen Donnelly. "Yes, Harvey's mum wrote to me. Yes, when we received the correspondence, my office immediately looked into the case and I responded with the information provided to me by the HSE. "I am certain that a clinical consultation with the family is vital here. Yes, my office has been in contact with advocacy groups and I expect to meet them shortly," he said. Ms McDonald, in a letter sent on Tuesday, urged Mr Harris to meet with the parents of Harvey, while Áontú leader Peadar Tóibín said his party would put down a motion of no-confidence in the Tánaiste. Within government circles, there is little expectation that Mr Harris will resign over the issue, but it is a reminder that the pledge made in 2017 remains high in the minds of many. It was the first issue which Sinn Féin raised at Leaders' Questions after Mr Harris became Taoiseach and, until those many children still waiting far longer than four months access the surgeries they need, it will stay on the agenda for the Tánaiste.
