The parents of the late Harvey Morrison Sherratt, the nine-year-old boy who waited years for scoliosis surgery, has called on former Minister for Health Simon Harris to resign.
Mr Harris, as Minister for Health, back in 2017, promised that no child in Ireland would wait longer than four months for scoliosis treatment.
Harvey, from Clondalkin, who had severe scoliosis, endured a wait of seven years for scoliosis surgery as the curvature on his spine worsened, growing to a life-threatening 130 degrees. The wait for surgery and the deterioration in his condition meant that his spinal curve began to crush the boy’s ribcage and lungs, placing severe pressure on his heart.
A heartbreaking video of Harvey struggling to breathe due to the curve on his spine was widely shared on social media in February 2024, with his case highlighted in the Dáil as hundreds of children remain on HSE waiting lists for vital scoliosis surgery.
Harvey’s father, Stephen Morrison, said that same month that he believed his son would die unless he underwent surgery. He explained how his son, who was born with spina bifida, hydrocephalus and scoliosis, is a “victim” of long “waiting lists” at Temple Street children’s hospital.
Harvey’s mother, Gillian Sherratt, had discovered last August that her son had in fact been removed from Children’s Health Ireland’s active scoliosis surgical waiting list without their knowledge. Harvey eventually had surgery last December. However, because the curve on his spine had grown in severity, it was not possible to completely correct it.
Harvey died on July 29th after a short illness, with his devastated family saying that words could “not convey” their heartbreak.
“Our little rockstar Harvey passed away in the arms of mum and dad. He will be dearly missed by anyone who was lucky enough to know him, but especially by his Mum Gillian, Dad Stephen, sister Lyla and brother Remy. As well as his grandparents Ann, Gordon, Christina and Thomas, and his aunts, uncles and cousins,” his death notice read.
“In his short life Harvey faced more challenges than most, and was the bravest, strongest and most courageous boy. To know him was to love him, and he definitely left his mark on this world,” Harvey’s family said last month.
Now, mum Gillian has issued a call for former Minister for Health Simon Harris to resign, as she urged him to “please think as a parent of young children.”
In an emotional social media post, she wrote: “While you make their breakfast, I stare at the open tin of formula that sustained Harvey’s body for the last 8 years trying to decide what to do with it.
“While you tuck them in to bed, I’m trying to decide if we should turn Harvey’s bedroom light off. While you shop for school clothes, I try to decide what to do with the large bag of new clothes I had just bought Harvey for school.
“While you brush their teeth, I think about the little box of Harvey’s teeth I have sitting on his bookshelf. While you brush their hair, I think about how glad I am that Harvey had just got a hair cut so he looked his best in his casket.
“While you sit and watch tv at night, I sit and watch Harvey’s old shows so the house is filled with the noises it was when he was still with us. While you get them a drink, I think about how Harvey was begging us for a drink but we couldn’t give him one.
“While you create memories with your children, I think about how memories are all we have left, and any future memories made will always have a void. While you kiss them goodbye for the day, I think about when I kissed Harvey goodbye for the last time.”
“#ResignHarris,” the mother of three added, writing: “#JusticeForHarvey.”
After the post was made on Wednesday, the Justice for Harvey hashtag begun trending on social media, with over 5,000 posts so far.
In a follow up post, Ms Sherratt on Friday reiterated calls for the resignation of Simon Harris TD, as well as calling for the board of HSE body Children’s Health Ireland to be disbanded. Harvey’s mother said that nobody from CHI or Temple Street has offered their condolences directly to the family.
“Just thought it would also interest (and anger) people to know that bar Harvey’s orthopaedic surgeon, nobody in @CHI_Ireland temple street has even bothered to pick up the phone to offer condolences,” she said.
“The same people that have been in charge of Harvey’s care for the last 9.5 years and zero contact. Even our daughter’s Cardiac nurse in Crumlin rang me, but nobody on the Spina bifida services could be bothered. I can only assume they have been advised to not contact us by their legal team. Of course they always care more about protecting themselves than the children they’re supposed to be caring for.”
Harvey’s father Stephen Morrison wrote: “For years I have been saying what will it take for an investigation into [Children’s Health Ireland] ‘The death of another child.’ Never in a million years did I think it would be Harvey.”
“Harvey was definitely unique,” his father added. “But what isn’t unique is the way he and other children and people with disabilities are being failed. It is up to us to stop it.”
In reaction, a number of other parents shared their own stories, with one writing: “Sadly there are too many of us who have experienced the cruelty and shocking lack of accountability in @HSELive.”
“If I hear ‘lessons will be learned’ one more time from this crowd,” another social media user added.