27-05-2025
More Children's Health Ireland board members resign
Three members of the board of
Children's Health Ireland
(CHI) resigned on Tuesday morning, after months of controversy at the operator of paediatric healthcare in the State.
CHI was established in 2019 to govern and operate paediatric services in Ireland, and currently operates Temple Street, Crumlin and Tallaght hospitals. It will also operate the new National Children's Hospital upon completion.
However, there have been a number of controversies in the hospital, including the
implantation of unapproved springs
into children with scoliosis; the
threshold for hip surgeries
; and surgical outcomes for children in the orthopaedic service.
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CHI consultant who allegedly referred public patients to his own weekend clinic faced no disciplinary action
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On Tuesday, Minister for Health
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
said three members of the board resigned from their posts that morning.
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'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,' she said.
'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.'
Their resignations come following the resignation of the board's chairman Jim Browne last month after a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) found the implantation of springs into three children with scoliosis was 'wrong' and the systems in CHI meant 'children were not protected from the risk of harm'.
Ms Carroll MacNeill told RTÉ that she has appointed two members of the HSE board to that of CHI, and there are currently three vacancies which she will fill in a similar manner in the coming weeks.
