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The Irish Sun

Latest bombshell as 3 CHI board members quit amid ‘horrendous scandal' over ‘unnecessary' hip surgeries in 2 hospitals

THREE board members of Children's Health Ireland (CHI) have resigned with immediate effect, the Minister for Health has said. Jennifer Carroll Advertisement It comes after several controversies involving CHI, including a report published on Friday that found many children underwent ' The clinical audit of dysplasia of the hips surgeries in Minister Carroll MacNeill revealed that three members - Dr Gavin Lavery, Brigid McManus and Catherine Guy - had resigned on Tuesday morning. Explaining the move, she said: 'These would be individuals who have worked on the board, worked in volunteer capacity on the board since 2018 and who have provided, you know, a very strong service in bringing the hospitals from where they were, as I said, that historical model run by the religious further. Advertisement READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS 'And they have dealt with very challenging circumstances but I think, it's also important to recognise that they have stepped down this morning, so as I look at the board.' A fourth member of the board, Mary Cryan, resigned last week. Commenting on the current situation, Minister Carroll MacNeill added: 'I have made it clear that I have strong questions about the governance of CHI and its direction towards the future. 'This is something that I've referenced a number of times in the Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Exclusive Exclusive 'I have a different relationship with the CHI board in statute than any other minister really has with most other boards. 'It is an unusual structure and I don't have the authority to ask people to step down in the way that you normally might expect. 'I do recognise that there have been resignations this morning and I want to thank those people for the service that they have given to the public because we recognise that these are voluntary positions. Advertisement 'And we're asking people to step out of their other lives to perform a public service in this measure." 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. Families call for action to tackle children's spinal surgery waiting list scandal Opposition TDs have called for a public inquiry and for CHI to be fully subsumed into the HSE. Advertisement 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.' 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. 1 Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said those who stepped down dealt with 'very challenging circumstances' Credit: PA Advertisement