Press Release: Tuesday 8 April 2025
Statement from the Minister of Health on the publication of HIQA’s Independent review of governance at Children’s Health Ireland in the use of implantable medical devices, including the use on non-CE marked springs in spinal surgery at CHI at Temple Street.
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, has acknowledged the publication of the final report by HIQA into the use of non-CE marked springs in surgery at CHI at Temple Street.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
“As Minister for Health, I want to begin by apologising to the three young children and their families.
What happened was wrong, should not have happened and should not have been allowed to happen.
As patients and parents, we put our trust in healthcare professionals. That is particularly the case here where parents had put their trust in clinicians to treat their very sick children.
This HIQA report is clear that their trust was breached in this case.
These children were not protected from the risk of harm, as they should have been.
Yesterday I met with both the Chief Executive and Chairperson of Children’s Health Ireland. We discussed the report, its findings, and the recommendations.
I made very clear to them my deep disquiet at what happened here and my clear expectations in terms of reform and change to ensure it does not happen again.
I note that both CHI and the HSE have accepted the recommendations of this review in their entirety and have already begun to implement them. I also note that they have apologised in full to the patients and families for the failings outlined in this report.
I thank HIQA for its independent statutory review into the governance and oversight of the surgical implants and implantable medical devices in Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), including CHI at Temple Street.
I would also like to express my sincere and deep thanks and appreciation to the families who contributed to this review and provided their experience so that HIQA could complete its work. I know it will not have been easy, particularly as they continued to care for their young children.”