More than 2,000 Irish families affected by possible paediatric hip surgery negligence
A report into hip surgery negligence involving Irish children will be published this month. The report will likely make for shocking and upsetting reading for the many parents and young adults affected by the latest scandal in Irish paediatric surgery.
The Minister for Health ordered the independent review in July 2024 to investigate dysplasia of the hip surgery at Children’s Health Ireland hospitals and the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh.
The dates for the review cover the years from 2021 to 2023 at the three CHI sites and the NOHC, and the narrow window will give an idea of the extent of the possible errors in paediatric hip surgery carried out during those years.
The HSE has written to 2,259 families who may be affected by Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip surgery negligence going back over the last 15 years.
With the number of families affected by the paediatric hip surgery negligence, the report will bring many children into focus and with a lot of detail to be dug out of the findings by concerned parents.
Yet another paediatric surgery report?
Unfortunately, the need for another report came to light as the surgery to correct developmental dysplasia of the hip is being called into question when some children reach skeletal maturity.
Questions are being raised if every child who underwent the surgery actually needed it at all. The clinical audit is of a randomised group during the two years in question and will look at if the children needed the hip surgery.
CHI announced that they were writing to the parents of all children who underwent paediatric dysplasia of the hip surgery since 2010. The letters are being sent to inform them of the report’s publication and what it could mean for now older children who may have undergone unnecessary DDH surgery at their hospitals. In all, they sent 1,757 letters to concerned families.
The NOHC also issued a statement saying they had written to another 502 parents of the children who may be affected by surgical negligence at the hospital by having unnecessary DDH surgery.
The initial report will indicate the extent of what may have happened in the hospitals.
What will be in the hip dysplasia surgery report?
The report will feature a look at a random sample of hip dysplasia surgeries carried out at the three hospitals between 2021 and 2023.
The report will consider:
Any surgery, particularly when it involves children, must be warranted. The HSE, through the CHI and NOHC, has an agreed set of indicators to meet before surgery can be performed.
The belief among concerned parents is that some surgeries for dysplasia of the hip were carried out without any need for it, and a cause could be the lack of standard criteria across the three hospitals.
Children’s Hospital Ireland released a statement in advance of the publication of the report, in which they say:
“We recognise the concerns of our patients’ families and are committed to expediting the audit process, publishing the findings and implementing any required actions. When the audit is complete, we will prioritise open and transparent communication with our patient families.”
Until parents see the report and digest its details, they will not know how it could affect their child and the actions they may need to take in light of the findings.
More medical negligence in child care and services in Ireland
The report is yet another example of medical negligence in child care in Ireland. Over the previous few years, we have had the Kerry CAMHS report and the more recent findings on scoliosis surgery negligence at Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin.
The Kerry Child and Adult Mental Health Services brought to light some shocking negligence in the treatment of young adults with mental health issues in the county. The CAMHS reports showed evidence of overdosing children with mental health problems and how it continued despite the complaints of parents.
A recent report on the use of unauthorised surgical implants on children undergoing scoliosis realignment surgery at Temple Street highlighted more negligence and a lack of oversight in paediatric orthopaedic care.
When combined with the report on Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip surgery, it looks as if there is a history of medical negligence in children’s orthopaedic care at both CHI and NODC hospitals.
The concern for parents who have children who underwent surgery at these hospitals is if their children are affected and how much damage was done.
What to do if your child may be a victim of surgical negligence
If you believe your child underwent unnecessary surgery or suffered due to errors in their surgery, you could make a medical negligence compensation claim* on their behalf.
Your child may have undergone unnecessary surgery for dysplasia of the hip at one of the CHI, or NOHC hospitals in Dublin. Making a claim on their behalf will help secure their future.
The experience of PBN Litigation Solicitors in dealing with all types of medical negligence can help you get the most from the compensation claim*.
Contact PBN Litigation Solicitors today and let us make your medical negligence compensation claim*.
