Oireachtas

Time ‘running out’ for child whose ribs are crushing his lungs

Eight-year-old Harvey Sherratt taken off surgery waiting list, unknown to his parents, says Sinn Féin leader

Gillian Sherratt with her son Harvey when he was a year old.
Marie O'Halloran
Wed Sept 18 2024 - 19:42

The wait for scoliosis treatment is killing an eight-year-old child whose ribs are crushing his lungs and whose condition has become life-threatening, the Dáil has heard.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald raised the case of Harvey Sherratt as she accused Taoiseach Simon Harris of breaking his promise that no child would wait more than four months for treatment.

Ms McDonald said that two years ago the curvature of Harvey’s spine was 65 degrees but is now 110 degrees.

“It’s twisting his rib cage against his heart and lungs, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. Between October and Christmas of last year, Harvey was rushed to hospital five times, twice by ambulance, on one occasion on Christmas day.

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Harvey’s Dad, Stephen, said the family had been pushed to breaking point and his mother Jillian “said the wait and lack of treatment is killing her child”.

“This child desperately needs his operation, and yet his parents recently found out that he was silently removed from the waiting list.”

Harvey's parents Stephen Morrison and Gillian Sherratt outside Leinster House after attending the the first day of this Dáil session. Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins

The Sinn Féin president added that Ms Sherratt had emailed the Taoiseach numerous times but only received an email on the eve of the Dáil’s return, with no commitment “to an end to their agony”.

She also referred to the Taoiseach’s commitment in May to meet parents of children with scoliosis but they only just received his email invitation to meet in October and were waiting six months.

Mr and Ms Sherratt’s son “is deteriorating rapidly”. The Sherratts were in the Dáil visitors’ gallery for Leaders’ Questions and Ms McDonald said “the very fact that parents of children with scoliosis and spina bifida have to come to the Dáil in this way is a testament to failure in and of itself, because their child is running out of time”.

The Taoiseach however said that “politicians don’t order operations. Clinicians decide when it’s safe to operate.” He stressed that “I’m very aware of Harvey’s case, and I have been in direct contact with the chief executive officer of the HSE in relation to the matter, and indeed, with my colleague, the Minister for Health.

“I hope that a further appointment can be made soon to clinically discuss the next steps in Harvey’s care. I believe that to be important.”

He said his office immediately looked into the case when Ms Sherratt wrote to him and he responded with the information provided by the HSE “but I’m absolutely certain that’s what’s vital”.

He said his office had been in touch with advocacy groups and would meet them shortly. “And that meeting, won’t just be a meeting with me. It will be a meeting with the new clinical lead for spinal surgery, a meeting with the Minister for Health and a meeting with the head of the HSE.”

Mr Harris noted a “very significant increase” in procedures in the past two years and more than 300 spinal procedures had taken place so far this year. “And behind each of those numbers is a child who’s gotten in operation and been successfully treated.”

Further funding had been provided to address waiting lists with additional staff for Saturday outpatient clinics and capacity for MRI scans. Several reforms were in place to provide more surgeries and it included treatment in Blackrock Clinic through the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Harvey’s case was later raised during Taoiseach’s questions by Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín and Solidarity TD Mick Barry who asked why Harvey was taken off the surgery waiting list and if other children were also affected. Mr Harris said he would check with the HSE if other children were taken off the list. His understanding was that clinical issues were involved, but proper communication at all times from the HSE was essential.

Marie O'Halloran

Marie O'Halloran

Marie O'Halloran is Parliamentary Correspondent of The Irish Times