Latest news with #OurKidsCan'tWait
The Irish Sun
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
I'll tell Taoiseach it just isn't good enough, says sister of boy who now needs TWO ops hellish scoliosis surgery wait
THE family of a boy who has been left waiting so long for scoliosis surgery that he now needs two ops instead of one have vowed to tell the Taoiseach: 'This just isn't good enough.' 4 Daniel Collins lives in agony after being diagnosed with scoliosis back in 2023 Credit: Domnick Walsh 4 Daniel's needs two ops on the 80 degree curve in his back He also suffers from mild Mum Louise and dad Dave last month revealed Daniel's scoliosis has progressed so much that he will now need two ops on the 80 degree curve in his back. A petition to help the teen has amassed almost 5,000 signatures. And the family have promised to bring the issue before the Dail in a matter of weeks. Read more on Scoliosis Daniel's sister Allanna told 'We've been in contact with a few politicians now, we're trying to figure out the process. We're hoping to do it in the next week or two. 'The hope is we will be able to speak for ourselves. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Health are who we want to talk to. 'We've gone back and watched what the Taoiseach has said about not only Daniel's case but the whole scoliosis scandal. I would Most read in The Irish Sun like to respond to him saying 'that is just not good enough'. 'When he talks about Daniel's case he seems so out of touch, he needs to choose his words a bit better. 'This is a child that he's talking about, someone whose job it is for the Government to protect. There are so many kids on so many waiting lists. They're not just statistics, these are some of the most vulnerable kids in the country. Joanna Keogh pleads for help as daughter Hannah with spina bifida suffering health hell over waiting list delays 'We are going to go up. It's not a case of if, it's just a case of when.' The Irish Sun started its Allanna said the family hoped for a surgery date when they travelled to She explained: 'There was a meeting two weeks ago where we were told they were going to discuss Daniel's case, and a possible surgery date. They said they had marked Daniel as semi-urgent in February 2024, which we didn't know about, and then urgent in August 2024. 'So that's 15 months where he's semi-urgent and he still hasn't got any surgery. To get nothing out of it, it was a kick in the teeth. 'Daniel has mild autism so he processes a lot of things differently, finding out when surgery would be, you have a clear timeline, you're able to explain to him in advance what's going to happen. He's confused. The last appointment we had, Daniel said to the surgeon 'my back is sore, can you please fix my back'? 'For the last year or so, the progression of scoliosis, it's scary. 'He really doesn't have much of a quality of life, he just goes to school and comes home. He's just confined to the couch now with pillows on either side of him, trying to find some comfort, but there is none. 'We don't have any more time.' Our Kids Can't Wait Campaign WAITING lists in Ireland have long been a national disgrace. More than 106,000 children are on hospital waiting lists for all treatments. However, a new source of shame has emerged as 327 children wait for life changing spinal surgeries. Their conditions are getting worse while they languish on waiting lists. Such are the delays, many child patients will be outside the therapeutic window when their treatments are approved. Earlier this month, the Seanad heard how at least one child has become permanently paralysed since the issue was raised publicly before Christmas. Their plight has been spearheaded by campaigning Senator Tom Clonan, who himself has a child with a disability. Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has even admitted that the health service is failing these kids. Children are being allowed to deteriorate due to mismanagement, which has allowed the waiting lists to grow. The Irish Sun's Kids Can't Wait campaign aims to shine a light on how the State is failing sick children and give their families a voice. It will also force the Government to do something to clear the backlog of operations and give these children a chance of living a normal life. He said: 'Other people in Ireland get the surgeries they need, disabled children are not. 'The price of all of this is being paid by Daniel and his little body, his lungs, his heart. This is unacceptable in a developed country.' And She told us: 'To not be given any care date is really soul destroying, for him and his family.' When contacted, CHI said it cannot comment on individual cases. 4 Mum Louise and dad Dave were hoped for a surgery date when they travelled to Cork for an appointment last week - but sadly did not get one Credit: Domnick Walsh 4 The family have promised to bring the issue before the Dail in a matter of weeks Credit: Domnick Walsh
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
The State investing so much money fighting us is a disgrace, rages dad of autistic girl, 6, facing assessment wait hell
AN AUTISTIC girl has been pushed to the back of the waiting queue as the six-year-old awaits another assessment of need for ADHD. Grace Fogarty has already had an assessment of need carried out for autism, but is now on another lengthy waiting list. Advertisement 2 Grace Fogarty is facing a long delay for an assessment of need for ADHD It comes as Opposition in the There are currently 15,296 children on waiting lists longer than this six-month period. It's also been reported that the Government has spent €8 million defending legal actions by frustrated parents. Grace's exhausted dad John described it as a 'national disgrace' and 'up there with housing as the biggest crisis in the country'. Advertisement Read more in Health He told 'We had a High 'It's been kicked down the road a couple of times now. We were successful with our case and just waiting to hear from the Complaints Officer regarding what order they're going to put on the 'To complicate matters even more we've had to apply for an assessment for ADHD. We had our suspicions that Grace was showing symptoms for ADHD. We are in that 15,000 because we applied last autumn. Advertisement Most read in Health 'It's not something that's added on. This is considered something that's fresh and has to be looked at like that. Grace is on yet another waiting list for that.' According to the HSE: "The assessment of need is to identify whether a person has a disability, the nature and extent of that disability and any health and educational needs that arise from it. 'An assessment of need is not needed to access health services. Advertisement "The number of people in need of assessment of need is growing as demand outstrips system capacity.' Our Kids Can't Wait Campaign WAITING lists in Ireland have long been a national disgrace. More than 106,000 children are on hospital waiting lists for all treatments. However, a new source of shame has emerged as 327 children wait for life changing spinal surgeries. Their conditions are getting worse while they languish on waiting lists. Such are the delays, many child patients will be outside the therapeutic window when their treatments are approved. Earlier this month, the Seanad heard how at least one child has become permanently paralysed since the issue was raised publicly before Christmas. Their plight has been spearheaded by campaigning Senator Tom Clonan, who himself has a child with a disability. Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has even admitted that the health service is failing these kids. Children are being allowed to deteriorate due to mismanagement, which has allowed the waiting lists to grow. The Irish Sun's Kids Can't Wait campaign aims to shine a light on how the State is failing sick children and give their families a voice. It will also force the Government to do something to clear the backlog of operations and give these children a chance of living a normal life. 2 Grace's dad John described the waiting list situation as a disgrace
