Mary Lou McDonald challenges Taoiseach to provide answers on scandal of unnecessary hip surgeries carried out on children
30 April 2025
Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD today challenged the Taoiseach to provide answers regarding the emerging scandal of unnecessary hip surgeries carried out on children at CHI hospitals.
Speaking at Leader Questions, Ms McDonald told the Dáil that she has been contacted by a parent who has received clinical confirmation from an orthopaedic surgeon that their child did not require the surgery carried out on them at a CHI hospital three years ago.
Teachta McDonald challenged the Taoiseach to tell the Dáil – What is the reference period for the audit? How many children are affected? How many letters have been sent by CHI to parents? And when will the audit be completed and published?
Taoiseach,
My understanding is that the audit into unnecessary hip surgeries carried out on children at CHI hospitals is now complete. Can you confirm this to the Dáil, and if so, can you tell us when the audit will be published?
When I raised the scandal of unnecessary hip dysplasia surgery on children with you four weeks ago, you were unable to shed any light on the matter. You gave me no further information, and certainly no answers.
So, a month on I want to ask you again – how many children are affected? Are we talking hundreds, or more? How many letters have been issued by CHI to parents? And what was the reference period for the audit? Years? Decades?
Every single day, our offices are receiving communication from parents in distress. They’re left to ask the gut-wrenching question – was my child one of those operated on unnecessarily? What does all of this mean for my child?
One parent has been in touch. Their child was only three when they had the surgery. This is the first parent to tell me that they have received clinical confirmation that their child didn’t need the operation performed on them at a CHI hospital three years ago. This parent has now been told by a surgeon that their child’s hips “were fine”. They say they would not have performed the surgery. Let this sink in – clinical confirmation that this child’s surgery was not needed.
This parent is absolutely devastated, Taoiseach. She told me, “I can’t believe this happened. It’s like a horror film. Why was my child diagnosed with a condition they didn’t have? Why was my child put through the trauma of surgery if it wasn’t needed? I just keep asking myself why?
Another mother reached out after she received a letter. Her son had his left hip operated on in 2018 but was told his right hip was fine. However, he was called back in 2021 and told that the right hip now required surgery, despite having no issues. She says this was a ‘devastating decision’. She tells us her son’s life deteriorated dramatically following the second operation.
He now suffers from serious health and development complications, catastrophic consequences from the surgery. This mother is overwhelmed thinking that her child’s surgery mightn’t have been needed at all.
Taoiseach, we’ve even received communication from a parent who received a letter whose child had the surgery in 2010. Fifteen years ago. That child is now a twenty-year-old adult. So, does this scandal go back decades, Taoiseach?
Tá scannal na leanaí ar a rinneadh obráid gan gá ag fás gach lá. Tá soiléiriú agus freagraí ag teastáil anois. Cé mhéad leanaí atá i gceist a Thaoisigh?
We have one parent who has clinical confirmation that their child’s surgery wasn’t required.
This scandal grows by the day.
Remember, Taoiseach, your former health Minister, Stephen Donnelly knew about this a year ago, and yet he delayed, and parents are only being told now.
They cannot be left in the dark.
They need answers. They’re entitled to know what happened with their children, and the government needs to ensure they get those answers speedily.
So, Taoiseach, I ask again – what is the reference period of the audit?
How many children are affected?
Can you confirm that the audit is complete? When will it be published?
Watch in full here.
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