Pádraig Ó Meiscill

'Private and confidential' report: systemic factors contributed to 10-year-old's death at Temple Street

External pressure, “system failures” and “human factors” contributed to the death of a 10-year-old Temple Street patient who underwent repeat surgeries at the hospital – according to a “private and confidential” Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) internal report. 

Children’s Health Ireland failed to inform families of impending surgery scandal till forced

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) didn’t inform parents affected by the ongoing hip surgery scandal – because of internal opposition – till after The Ditch’s publication of a draft report that concluded children were being operated on unnecessarily.

NHS consultant report: Dublin hospitals conducted unnecessary operations on child patients

Nearly 80 percent of hip operations at a Children’s Health Ireland hospital were unnecessary according to a leaked expert report obtained by The Ditch.

Unnecessary surgeries carried out at Children’s Health Ireland ‘purely for financial gain’ – whistleblower

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has begun an audit after claims by an internal whistleblower that needless surgeries are being carried out on children with dysplasia “purely for financial gain”.

HIQA confirms Temple Street scandal – parents remain uninformed

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) – in correspondence marked “urgent and confidential” – has confirmed the “potentially significant” patient safety issues caused by the use of non-medical grade springs in surgery at Temple Street Children's Hospital. 

Analysis – State Failures: Letterheads and Waiting Lists and Silence

In September 2023, I wrote the first story about the use of non-medical grade springs in surgical implants at Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin, as well as broader concerns about care received by spinal patients there. Some reflections.

CHI facilitated cash-only private appointments for unlicensed spring surgeon in late August

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) was facilitating cash-only private appointments for the surgeon at the centre of Temple Street’s ongoing unlicensed springs scandal as recently as late August.

Temple Street management knew about unlicensed springs earlier than claimed

Senior management at Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street knew that unlicensed springs had been used in spinal surgery in May this year.

Child’s death flagged as CHI management urged resumption of operations

During tense discussions this March, Temple Street management urging surgeons to resume spina bifida surgeries had to be reminded that surgeries were suspended because of alarmingly high rates of post-operative complications – including the death of a child.

Father of Temple Street patient denied participation in review, refused access to report

The father of a seriously ill spina bifida patient at Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street (CHI) was denied the right to participate in a review of surgery at the hospital.

Unlicensed implants made with non-medical parts used in Temple Street spinal operations – surgery suspended

Certain Spina bifida-related surgeries remains suspended at Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street (CHI) for almost a year amid serious allegations that unlicensed devices made with non-medical parts have been implanted in child patients.