Mother Calls for Change as Daughter Faces Long Wait for MRI

A mother from Co Kilkenny, Ireland, is raising urgent concerns about the healthcare system after noticing troubling signs of scoliosis in her five-year-old daughter, Hannah. Carolann Walsh, 32, recognized the symptoms as she sat on her bed with her daughter, recalling her own childhood experience with the condition.

Carolann first observed that one of Hannah’s shoulder blades was protruding more than the other nearly three months ago. This led to a visit to the general practitioner, who confirmed the diagnosis of scoliosis and referred Hannah for an MRI. However, the family now faces an alarming wait of eight to twelve months for the scan, raising serious concerns for Hannah’s ongoing health.

Since her initial diagnosis, Hannah has experienced nightly pain, headaches, and migraines, symptoms linked to her spinal curvature. Carolann’s familiarity with scoliosis makes this situation particularly distressing; she was diagnosed with the same condition at the age of two and underwent extensive treatment, including a spinal fusion surgery in 2009.

She expressed her frustration with the current healthcare system, stating, “The healthcare system continues to be problematic 17 years on from my treatment, with long waiting lists and other barriers.” Carolann recalled that, unlike Hannah’s experience today, her own diagnosis led to an immediate MRI and subsequent treatment, including wearing body casts and braces that severely limited her mobility.

Hannah’s case is not isolated. The tragic story of Harvey Morrison Sherratt, a nine-year-old from Dublin who died after waiting over three years for spinal surgery, underscores the critical need for timely medical interventions. Harvey’s parents campaigned for his treatment, but he was removed from the urgent surgery list without their knowledge. His surgery came too late, highlighting systemic failures that have persisted within the healthcare system.

The healthcare system’s flaws have compounded Carolann’s challenges as a single mother of three children with disabilities. Her eldest daughter, Nessie, has generalised epilepsy and requires ongoing care, while her youngest son, Jackson, aged two, has sensory issues and is on a lengthy waiting list for speech therapy. Carolann herself faces a nine-month wait to see a mental health counsellor, further illustrating the strain on families navigating the system.

“I’m finding it all so hard,” Carolann remarked, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of managing multiple health issues within her family. “I have three children with disabilities, and there’s a massive waiting list for support services.”

The lengthy wait for Hannah’s MRI is particularly concerning given her age and the severity of her symptoms. Carolann has called for systemic changes to ensure that no child has to endure prolonged waits for essential medical treatment. “It’s clear that people aren’t doing their jobs,” she said, noting the urgent need for reforms in the healthcare system.

Her plea resonates with many parents across the country who have echoed similar sentiments about the backlog of children waiting for spinal assessments and treatments. Despite previous promises to improve care, Carolann insists that the same barriers remain, causing unnecessary suffering for children and families.

With the healthcare system under scrutiny, Carolann’s story serves as a reminder of the urgent need for faster pathways to medical care. As she advocates for her daughter and others in similar situations, she hopes to bring attention to the critical issues facing families reliant on the healthcare system in Ireland.

“We need change now,” she urged, “before more children’s conditions deteriorate further.”