The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group has said they are “furious” about a proposed inquiry into Children’s Health Ireland.
Last year, the Department of Health agreed to an inquiry amid numerous reports of poor quality care at CHI.
The parents of Harvey Morrison, who waited years for spinal surgery and died not long afterwards, are among those with concerns - fearing the lives of other children are at risk.
A Senior Counsel was appointed as a facilitator to lead a scoping exercise that would agree the terms of reference for such an inquiry.
However, impacted families are unhappy with how the manner in which the scoping exercise is being carried out.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Amanda Coughlan of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group (SBHPAG) said a memo should already have been sent to Government.
“That memo was supposed to say that in principle, the inquiry would be a tribunal of inquiry,” she explained.
“Families are very have feel that that's the best modality for us to achieve what we want, which is the truth of what has happened and what has been allowed to transpire for all of these children.
“That was agreed in principle - that was not included in the memo.”
Ms Coughlan continued that they have no problem with the Senior Counsel, Remy Farrell, who had been appointed as facilitator.
However, they do not believe the Government has given him the tools to do the job.
“A mediator was meant to be put in place that was to be in agreement between us,” she said.
“That person was to be independent; there is a legal definition for a mediator - there's not a legal definition for what we have now, which is a facilitator.”
A barrister holding a wig. Picture by: PA Wire/PA Images.Overall, Ms Coughlan described the families in her organisation as “furious” with how the inquiry has begun, adding they have no intention of engaging with it.
“How can the Minister for Health look us in the eye and to expect us to come to a table and engage in a process that is flawed?” she said.
“Where we are coming at disadvantage to the facilitator because we don't have all the information - information that is about our children.”
In a statement to Newstalk, the Department of Health said Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill remains “committed to supporting the facilitation process and encourages all stakeholders to engage fully with the facilitator as his work continues.”
Main image: A sign at Children's Health Ireland. Picture by: Alamy.com.
