Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has spoken in support of Tánaiste Simon Harris amid calls for his resignation concerning the handling of Harvey Morrison Sherratt’s case, reports RTE.
Earlier today, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín demanded Mr Harris step down, claiming he broke a 2017 promise made during his time as health minister that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis surgery.
Mr Tóibín has sent a letter to the Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Committee on Health, urging for its immediate reconvening and requesting Mr Harris to appear before the committee, reports RTE.
Harvey, a nine-year-old from Clondalkin in Dublin, passed away on July 29. He had spina bifida and scoliosis.
He had experienced repeated delays in getting urgent scoliosis surgery. Harvey’s mother stated last week that they still don’t have an official cause of death.
Last year, Harvey’s parents, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, said their son had been removed from a Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) list for urgent scoliosis surgery without their knowledge or consent, reports RTE.
Harvey ultimately had spinal surgery in November last year, having initially been added to the waiting list in February 2022.
Paschal Donohoe said he had witnessed “the commitment that Simon Harris has had as minister for health, as taoiseach and as Tánaiste” in assisting families of children with scoliosis.
He said that when Mr Harris became aware of Harvey’s situation, he “did all he could in terms of engaging with the Department of Health and the HSE”, reports RTE.
He added that Mr Harris and the Government had placed “huge focus” on helping children with scoliosis.
Mr Donohoe admitted that the Government “need to do more” and insisted they will “continue to prioritise this as a vital health issue”, reports RTE.
“We always want to do more,” he said. “We always want to make more progress,” reports RTE.
Mr Donohoe continued: “I am very conscious that we have a family that have lost a loved one, who are grieving at the moment. We have to respect that and allow them to make the points that they believe are important,” reports RTE.
He stated that “additional resources, additional clinical support and operating theatres” have been provided to care for children with scoliosis.
“Those who are waiting for care have seen a reduction in how long they are waiting,” he said, reports RTE.
“We are seeing a reduction in the number of people on the waiting list,” reports RTE.
He mentioned that the Government had previously acknowledged that “our health service did need to do better”.
During an appearance on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Tóibín claimed Mr Harris had not fulfilled his 2017 pledge as health minister that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis treatment.
“It’s a disaster for any parent to lose their child but the circumstances surrounding Harvey’s death are particularly heartbreaking given all he had to endure in his short life,” he said, reports RTE.
“It’s very important in this country that we have some level of accountability and responsibility as well. When Simon Harris was minister for health, he promised in 2017 that no child would be left waiting for longer than four months for scoliosis surgery – that’s a promise he failed to keep. In his own words, he says ‘we don’t need ministers to defend the indefensible’, he said the waiting lists were indefensible. ” And yet we have a situation where Harvey had to spend 33 months on a scoliosis waiting list before he got his surgery. He was promised surgery back in 2022, he was meant to have it ’23, it was cancelled abruptly and then a year ago Harvey’s family found out that he was actually removed from the Children’s Health Ireland waiting list without their knowledge,” reports RTE.
A representative for Mr Harris stated that when Harvey’s case was initially brought to the Tánaiste’s attention, his office promptly contacted both the Department of Health and the HSE, asking for immediate clinical attention.
“The Tánaiste expresses his deepest condolences to the family, as he did when he was asked about this matter on Monday,” the spokesperson said, reports RTE.
“When this issue was brought to his attention during his time as Taoiseach, his overriding focus was making sure that the proper clinical interventions and consultations were made available. He was informed an additional clinical assessment did then take place and surgery was subsequently scheduled,” reports RTE.
He added that Mr Harris anticipates and “has been assured” that the Department of Health, the HSE and CHI will remain available to support and engage with the family.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald called on Mr Harris yesterday to meet with Harvey’s parents, reports RTE.
In a statement, CHI said it could not discuss individual cases.
It noted that the spinal surgery waiting list “is constantly changing, as children and young people have their surgeries and come off the list, new patients are added. Important progress is being made every month”, reports RTE.
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