Parents Demand Answers After Whistleblower Claims on Son’s Care

The parents of Harvey Sherratt, a nine-year-old boy who faced significant delays in receiving scoliosis surgery, expressed their shock at allegations made by a whistleblower regarding his care by Children’s Health Ireland (CHI). The insider’s report claims that CHI wrongfully classified Harvey as a “palliative” patient, leading to his removal from the active spinal surgery waiting list.

According to the protected disclosure, which was reviewed by The Journal, a consultant surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) had assessed Harvey in May 2024 and determined that he was “suitable for surgery once bone density is improved.” Despite this assessment, senior CHI staff reportedly misinformed management, suggesting that the GOSH consultant concurred with the view that Harvey was not fit for surgery.

Gillian Sherratt, Harvey’s mother, expressed her disbelief at the claims. “Even if Harvey was palliative, which I can say 100% he was not, why is that not in his medical records? Why was he not linked to a palliative care team? It makes no sense,” she stated. She added that her son was not on any prescription pain relief, a standard expectation for a child receiving palliative care.

The disclosure has left Harvey’s parents, Gillian and her partner Stephen Morrison, searching for answers. They plan to meet with Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Tánaiste Simon Harris tomorrow to discuss initiating an independent inquiry into CHI’s handling of their son’s case. “This is incredibly shocking to hear, and it indicates systemic neglect within Children’s Health Ireland,” Ms Sherratt noted.

During the meeting, Ms Sherratt intends to seek clarity on the government’s response to the whistleblower’s claims, which were first reported by the Sunday Times. “I want to get to the bottom of whether this was malicious or accidental,” she urged. “If this was done maliciously, then there are individuals who need to face the medical council.”

Despite numerous inquiries made by Harvey’s parents regarding why he was removed from the surgery waiting list, they reported receiving no adequate explanation. Ms Sherratt learned of her son’s removal in August 2024 while following up on Harvey’s surgery timeline. At that point, Harvey had already been waiting over three and a half years for the procedure, during which his spinal curve had escalated to a life-threatening 130 degrees.

Harvey eventually underwent surgery in December 2024. Although his health initially improved, he experienced a sudden decline and tragically passed away on July 29, 2025. “It’s been fifteen months since I discovered Harvey was taken off the list, and it is just getting worse,” Ms Sherratt lamented. “We still have no clarity or accountability regarding what led to that.”

In addition to pursuing answers for their son, the Sherratts are advocating for a comprehensive statutory inquiry into CHI’s management of services for children with scoliosis and spina bifida. The whistleblower’s disclosure also alleged that staff members faced “threats to silence” after raising concerns internally about Harvey’s case. The whistleblower expressed their motivation for coming forward as a concern for patient safety and governance at CHI.

As of now, CHI, the HSE, and the Department of Health have been contacted for comments regarding these allegations. The Sherratts continue to seek transparency and accountability, not just for their son, but for all children at risk within the healthcare system.