How the spinal surgeries scandal damaged trust between parents and Children’s Health Ireland

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) is no stranger to hitting the headlines. In 2023, then chief executive of the children’s healthcare provider Eilísh Hardiman told politicians about issues in Temple Street children’s hospital’s orthopaedic unit.

“Decisions were made, certain procedures were carried out, children were subjected to a higher-than-expected number of unplanned return trips to theatre and, alarmingly, unapproved, non-medical-grade devices were implanted in three children,” she said at a meeting of the Oireachtas health committee.

She described this as “a shocking litany of events”.

She was not the only person who felt that way. There was widespread concern within the government as well as patients and their families, particularly around the use of unapproved, non-CE-certified springs in three patie...
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