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29th June 2023
11:38am BST
Credit: Getty Images[/caption]
OCO Director of Investigations Nuala Ward said that the case is being published on behalf of the 309 children and their families who are still waiting for scoliosis treatment despite the Government promising that no child would be waiting for more than four months.
"In 2018, we raised serious concerns about the children in Ireland waiting for scoliosis and they have been repeatedly promised that no child will wait longer than four months for this surgery," she said.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ward also said that this case came to the attention of the Ombudsman in 2020 after the family raised concerns over their daughter's deteriorating health.
"We sought records in relation to how did all the specialists come together to plan for her care and we couldn't find it," she said.
"She ended up only going to school for two or one days a week ... she told us about how she struggled to breathe.
"So, this is a dangerous waiting list that really needs to be tackled head on in the best interest of the children that are waiting, and the families are suffering such distress every day."
The CHI has since said in a statement that they fully accept the report and are committed to maintaining the the best quality care.
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