5 days ago
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.
