Mother Urges Taoiseach for Urgent Care for Disabled Daughter

A mother from Cobh has urgently called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to facilitate overseas treatment for her disabled daughter, who she claims has been overlooked by the Irish healthcare system. Antoinette Burke made her plea during the opening day of the Fianna Fáil think-in at the Rochestown Park Hotel, emphasizing the dire circumstances surrounding her daughter, Katie Byrne, who is 18 years old and living with multiple disabilities.

Katie suffers from cerebral palsy, severe hip dysplasia, a retroverted pelvis, a twisted femur, subluxation, and autism. Despite persistent efforts over the past 14 years, Antoinette stated that she has been unable to secure the necessary surgeries for her daughter in Ireland. Most pressing is Katie’s need for a hip replacement, which local doctors have deemed inappropriate due to her age.

In an emotional address, Ms. Burke told Mr. Martin, “Nobody in this country will do anything for her. Katie needs help.” She highlighted that March 24 marks 15 years since Katie has been waiting for surgery, a situation she believes reflects poorly on the state of healthcare in Ireland.

Antoinette further revealed that she had sent all of Katie’s medical files to Mr. Martin’s office and had requested meetings with several officials, including Minister for Health Simon Harris and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, to no avail. “If that is the case, why do you have a minister for health?” she asked incredulously, expressing her frustration over the lack of action.

In response, Mr. Martin acknowledged the complexities surrounding Katie’s case, stating, “Clearly, for some reason, the clinical people, the consultants, have made a judgement.” Junior Health Minister Mary Butler offered to take Antoinette’s contact details to follow up, but Ms. Burke reminded her that she had previously spoken with her about Katie’s situation two years ago, yielding no results.

Mr. Martin mentioned the existence of a treatment abroad scheme that could potentially provide the necessary care if local expertise is lacking. He committed to exploring this option further, saying, “We don’t want to force surgeons to do something that they feel is clinically wrong.”

Antoinette Burke’s impassioned plea underscores the challenges faced by families navigating the healthcare system in Ireland, particularly when it comes to securing timely and appropriate care for children with complex medical needs. As she continues to advocate for her daughter, her story raises critical questions about the accessibility and efficacy of health services for those most vulnerable in society.