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Irish Times
15-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Mother ‘devastated' to be told her young son's hip operation was not necessary after all
A woman whose non-verbal son received hip surgery in a Dublin hospital in 2023 said she was 'devastated' to be told three weeks ago the operation was not necessary. The mother, who does not want to be named, is the latest to speak out in advance of the publication soon of an independent review into hip surgeries in children. In all, 2,259 families of children who received hip surgery over a 15-year period have received letters in advance of the publication of the audit on unnecessary surgeries. The review, announced last July, is looking at a random, anonymised sample of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) surgeries, between 2021 and 2023, at Children's Health Ireland (CHI) hospital sites as well as at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh (NOHC). READ MORE It has been examining whether the criteria used for surgical intervention varied between the three hospitals and if surgery was required in all cases. The mother, from the west of Ireland, said her son, who is now aged six and has special needs, was identified as having one leg that was slightly longer than the other when he was a baby. He was referred to Temple Street hospital in Dublin when he was six months old, where a pelvic X-ray was carried out. Following this, the surgeon told the family the child had DDH and would require monitoring. The mother said she was surprised by this as they had been told by clinicians in their local hospital that there was no problem with his hips. A further X-ray was carried out in January 2023, at which point the mother said: 'We were told the left hip hadn't developed and surgery would be required. The right wasn't as bad, but they were going to do both.' Six months later, the child had surgery on his left hip in the NOHC in June 2023 when he was aged four. The mother said the surgeons 'decided in the theatre the right hip was fine'. The mother attended Temple Street hospital three weeks ago when she asked a different orthopaedic surgeon to review the X-ray taken of her son six months before his operation. 'He said his hips were fine. And I asked if he would have done the surgery, and he said no he would not have,' she said. The woman said a memory that was now 'burned into my brain' came soon after the surgery when her son tried to use the bathroom by himself. 'My child, who is non-verbal, was crawling across the floor to use the toilet because he can't tell us that he needs to use it and he doesn't know what's happened to him,' she said. 'To hear now that it was unnecessary is devastating. Absolutely devastating. We trusted what we were told and why wouldn't you trust it? 'The guilt as a parent is overwhelming. We're supposed to protect our kids. These are real kids, and it [the surgery] has a massive impact.' NOHC was contacted for comment. In a statement on Wednesday evening, CHI said it wrote to 1,757 parents of children and young people who underwent any type of hip surgery for DDH in its hospitals, dating back to 2010. Furthermore, NOHC wrote to 502 parents of patients who underwent DDH surgery in the hospital, and this group of patients will continue to be monitored to skeletal maturity. 'We recognise the concerns of our patients' families and are committed to expediting the audit process, publishing the findings and implementing any required actions. When the audit is complete, we will prioritise open and transparent communication with our patient families,' the statement said. A spokesman for Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she noted the publication of the number of letters sent by CHI and NOHC 'The minister is very conscious of the concern that will be felt by all patients and families affected,' the spokesman said. 'The minister will be in a position to comment further once the audit is published.'
Irish Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Over 2,200 families of children who received hip surgeries over 15 year period written to by CHI and Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital
A total of 2,259 families of children who received hip surgery over a 15 year period have received letters in advance of the publication of an audit on unnecessary surgeries. Last July, it was announced an independent review into hip surgeries in children would be carried out to examine if the developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) surgery was required in all cases. The review is looking at a random, anonymised sample of dysplasia of the hip surgeries, between 2021 and 2023, at Children's Health Ireland (CHI) hospital sites, as well as the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh (NOHC). It has been examining whether the criteria used for surgical intervention varied between the three hospitals and if surgery was required in all cases. The report is expected to be published shortly . READ MORE In a statement on Wednesday evening, CHI said it wrote to 1,757 parents of children and young people who underwent any type of hip surgery for DDH in its hospitals, dating back to 2010. Furthermore, NOHC wrote to 502 parents of patients who underwent DDH surgery in the hospital, and this group of patients will continue to be monitored to skeletal maturity. [ Miriam Lord: Hip operations uproar leaves Taoiseach in a bind Opens in new window ] CHI said the letters were sent on the age of the children, as children up to the age of 16 years are treated in CHI – the number represents all of the patients who potentially fall within the scope of follow up to skeletal maturity. 'CHI and NOHC will communicate further with families when the clinical audit is complete and any required additional steps will be taken as part of an action plan,' the statement said. 'We recognise the concerns of our patients' families and are committed to expediting the audit process, publishing the findings and implementing any required actions. When the audit is complete, we will prioritise open and transparent communication with our patient families.' A spokesman for Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she notes the publication of the number of letters sent by CHI and NOHC 'The Minister is very conscious of the concern that will be felt by all patients and families affected,' the spokesman said 'The audit process is nearing completion and the Minister has been advised that it will be finalised and completed imminently.' He added: 'The Minister will be in a position to comment further once the audit is published.' CHI has come under consistent pressure in recent months, particularly in relation to the provision of orthopaedic services for children. A recent report published by the Health Information and Quality Authority into the use of unlicensed metal springs in spinal procedures on three children in Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin found children were 'not protected from the risk of harm'. A third report, by orthopaedic consultant Selvadurai Nayagam, is also being carried out in relation to adverse surgical outcomes.
Irish Times
14-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Over 2,200 families of children who received hip surgeries over 15 year period written to by CHI
A total of 2,259 families of children who received hip surgery over a 15 year period have received letters in advance of the publication of an audit on unnecessary surgeries. Last July, it was announced an independent review into hip surgeries in children would be carried out to examine if the developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) surgery was required in all cases. The review is looking at a random, anonymised sample of dysplasia of the hip surgeries, between 2021 and 2023, at Children's Health Ireland (CHI) hospital sites, as well as the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh (NOHC). It has been examining whether the criteria used for surgical intervention varied between the three hospitals and if surgery was required in all cases. The report is expected to be published shortly . READ MORE In a statement on Wednesday evening, CHI said it wrote to 1,757 parents of children and young people who underwent any type of hip surgery for DDH in its hospitals, dating back to 2010. Furthermore, NOHC wrote to 502 parents of patients who underwent DDH surgery in the hospital, and this group of patients will continue to be monitored to skeletal maturity. [ Miriam Lord: Hip operations uproar leaves Taoiseach in a bind Opens in new window ] CHI said the letters were sent on the age of the children, as children up to the age of 16 years are treated in CHI – the number represents all of the patients who potentially fall within the scope of follow up to skeletal maturity. 'CHI and NOHC will communicate further with families when the clinical audit is complete and any required additional steps will be taken as part of an action plan,' the statement said. 'We recognise the concerns of our patients' families and are committed to expediting the audit process, publishing the findings and implementing any required actions. When the audit is complete, we will prioritise open and transparent communication with our patient families.' A spokesman for Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she notes the publication of the number of letters sent by CHI and NOHC 'The Minister is very conscious of the concern that will be felt by all patients and families affected,' the spokesman said 'The audit process is nearing completion and the Minister has been advised that it will be finalised and completed imminently.' He added: 'The Minister will be in a position to comment further once the audit is published.' CHI has come under consistent pressure in recent months, particularly in relation to the provision of orthopaedic services for children. A recent report published by the Health Information and Quality Authority into the use of unlicensed metal springs in spinal procedures on three children in Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin found children were 'not protected from the risk of harm'. A third report, by orthopaedic consultant Selvadurai Nayagam, is also being carried out in relation to adverse surgical outcomes.
Irish Examiner
07-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Cork woman says her disabled daughter denied treatment in Ireland after she complained about a surgeon
A Cork mother has been told her disabled daughter's last chance for treatment in Ireland is no longer open to her because she complained about a doctor's manner. Antoinette Burke, who has been campaigning for her daughter Katie since her diagnosis with cerebral palsy, has received a letter from the National Orthopaedic Hospital advising her that Katie would no longer receive treatment from one of its surgeons after she lodged a written complaint to the Medical Council. The letter says that "in circumstances where you have made a complaint, [the surgeon] is unable to offer [Katie] an appointment or further treatment options". It effectively leaves Katie without a surgeon for her cerebral palsy. Katie was born with cerebral palsy and now has dislocated hips and a retrograde pelvis which threaten to force her into a wheelchair. Along with cerebral palsy, Katie has a dysplastic hip and a twisted femur. Without surgery, she risks hip arthritis and scoliosis. However, she does not qualify for publicly-funded treatment abroad under the current State scheme because she has not yet developed scoliosis. While doctors here have told Ms Byrne they cannot carry out the operation, a costly surgery is available in the US. Antoinette and Katie have met with Dror Paley, a renowned hip and pelvis surgeon, who said he could operate at his Paley Institute in Florida, where recovery will take up to seven weeks. The cost of the surgery, physiotherapy, equipment, travel and living expenses could top €300,000, which Ms Burke is attempting to raise. Ms Burke said in one meeting with a surgeon in Ireland, the family was told the US treatment was being carried out purely for money, leading to the written complaint by Ms Burke to the Medical Council. Ms Burke said she had also complained about the standard of treatment here, but now claims her letter had effectively "barred" her daughter from the HSE. "If you complain in a shop, you don't get barred." Ms Burke said she was now willing to walk from Cork to Dublin to "prove a point". "I'm not leaving until I get someone to help her." She said while Katie does not qualify for the HSE's Treatment Abroad Scheme, there should be a fund for cases requiring treatment outside of Europe. There should be a fund, not just for Katie, for the other kids who need treatment. We asked about the scheme for scoliosis but because she's not bent over in agony with her organs moving, she doesn't qualify yet. Katie's case has been raised a number of times in the Oireachtas, including earlier this month during a Seanad debate on scoliosis by independent senator Sharon Keogan, who said the family "have been forced to search for treatment abroad and are desperately seeking to raise the money for this treatment". "Parents should not have to set up a GoFundMe page to get treatment for their children." The National Orthopaedic Hospital said: "We cannot comment on individual patient cases or consultant practices. The National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh encourages feedback from patients, which is addressed in line with hospital policy."
