Harris ‘did all he could’ on child scoliosis case, Donohoe says

The Tanaiste “did all he could” in engaging with health officials about a child with scoliosis who later died, a senior minister has said.

Simon Harris has faced calls to resign over unmet pledges around child spinal surgery waiting lists made several years ago.

It comes amid heightened scrutiny on the matter after the death of nine-year-old Harvey Morrison, who suffered from scoliosis, on July 29.

His parents, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison, learned last August that Harvey had been removed from Children Health Ireland’s (CHI) scoliosis waiting list without their knowledge.

After they publicly raised their son’s case, Harvey, from Clondalkin, received spinal surgery last December after waiting for years.

By then, his spinal curve had reached the point where it could not be fully corrected.

While he spent years on a waiting list, his spinal curve caused his rib cage to twist around his lungs and heart, severely restricting his breathing.

While health minister in 2017, Mr Harris pledged that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis treatment.

Opposition politicians have joined Harvey’s mother and father in calling for the Fine Gael leader’s resignation, further criticising Mr Harris for failing to meet his parents.

Asked if he stood by his party leader on Wednesday, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said Mr Harris has a commitment to supporting families dealing with scoliosis.

“Minister Harris, as minister and then as taoiseach and Tanaiste, when he became aware of the needs of the particular family in question here, did all he could in terms of engaging with the Department of Health, in terms of engaging with the HSE, and I’m very conscious that we have a family who have lost a loved one who are grieving at the moment, and we have to respect that and allow them to make the points that they believe are important.

“But alongside that, Simon and the Government have placed huge focus on how we support young children with scoliosis.

“We always want to do more. We always want to make more progress. But additional resources, additional clinical support and operating theatres have all been made available to focus in on supporting those children.”

He added: “Those who are waiting for care have seen a reduction in how long they’re waiting.

“We’re seeing a reduction in the number of people on the waiting list.

“But we know we need to do more, and we will always continue to prioritise this as a vital health issue.”

Pressed on whether Mr Harris should be accountable for failures to meet the commitment to cut waiting lists to four months, and resign, Mr Donohoe said: “We’re all accountable through the appearances that we make in front of the Dail, the questions we deal with in relation to matters of health or any aspect of public policy.”