In 2017, as Health Minister, Fine Gael TD Simon Harris insisted that “By the end of this year, no child will wait longer for a scoliosis procedure than 4 months.”
The comments were made during an interview on RTÉ Radio 1, after Harris told Claire Byrne Live that he was “ashamed” and “heartbroken” due to long hospital waiting list times.
“I don’t think there’s any sugar coating of this,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s any possibility, or any point in anybody saying anything other than that this is wrong, this is something that as a country we can’t stand over. It’s something that I as Minister for Health can’t stand over, and it does make me feel ashamed.”
Harris added that “personal stories” of people waiting for treatment were “deeply moving,” and that the situations they were in were “absolutely inexcusable.”
One of the personal stories in question related to an an old age pensioner named Betty, who had been waiting 3 years for treatment for a painful and debilitating spinal issue. “There are times when I am in so much pain I’m tempted to overdose,” she said at the time.
Another story was about a girl named Megan in Limerick, who was suffering with scoliosis so much that she could no longer attend school while waiting for treatment. During the segment, her mother told viewers “It’s not fair for a child to go through this when it can be rectified.”
Reacting to the segment during a subsequent RTÉ Radio 1 interview, Harris re-iterated that he was “ashamed,” and said that he had seen “media commentary” saying “We don’t need the Minister to say he’s ashamed, we need him to do something.”
“That’s right, and I’m going to tell you what I’m doing,” Harris said.
“…we’re going to fix it. We’re going to make sure that by the end of this year (2017) no child will wait longer in this country for a scoliosis procedure than 4 months.”
Harris went on to claim that the problem was caused by “an inability to have invested in our health services over the last several years,” but said “we’re now back investing.”
“Failures in scoliosis are a direct correlation between the recession and the waiting times.”
He added: “We’re going to get this fixed. It’s an absolute priority. No child should wait longer than 4 months.”
This week, however, the Ombudsman for Children announced in a report that a 17-year-old girl with scoliosis named Ivy saw her spinal curvature deteriorate from 30 degrees to 135 degrees as she waited five years for an operation.
Teenager ‘could not breathe’ as her scoliosis got worse waiting five years for operation https://t.co/rukuyAwRYH
— Irish Independent (@Independent_ie) June 29, 2023
The girl – who has cerebral palsy – could not spend time with her friends, go to school, or even breathe sometimes depending on the severity of her condition.
Ultimately, she acquired the surgery in 2021 – a full four years after Harris’ previously announced deadline. After receiving the surgery, her pain was dramatically reduced and she saw a significant improvement in her quality of life.
Reacting to the news, the Children’s Ombudsman’s Director of Investigations Nuala Ward said that this case showed how “devastating” delayed surgery can be.
“Ivy’s story shows the devastating consequences that waiting for this life-changing surgery can have on a child,” she said.
“When Ivy and her family came to us after previously raising their concerns a number of times with their GP, consultant and Children’s Health Ireland, it was clear the whole family had suffered significant distress and anguish.”
Scoliosis is a medical condition characterised by an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. While there is no definitive cure for scoliosis, various treatment options are available to manage the condition and minimise its progression.
If scoliosis is not treated on time or left untreated, several potential complications can arise, including worsening of the curvature, extreme pain and discomfort, respiratory and cardiovascular issues, digestive problems, and psychological distress.