Urgent Inquiry Announced into Children’s Spinal Care After Tragic Death

UPDATE: An urgent inquiry into spinal care at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has been confirmed following the tragic death of Harvey Morrison Sherratt, a nine-year-old boy who passed away in July 2023 after enduring years of pain and breathing difficulties. This inquiry aims to address systemic failures in the healthcare system that led to Harvey being removed from the surgical waiting list without his family’s knowledge.

Harvey’s parents, Gillian and Stephen Sherratt, met with Tánaiste Simon Harris and Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill earlier today to discuss the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding their son’s death. During the meeting, they expressed their deep frustration over the State’s failure to provide timely care, highlighting that Harvey had waited over seven years for surgery.

Gillian Sherratt stated that the inquiry will focus on spina bifida and scoliosis care at CHI, with terms and reference to be developed in collaboration with advocacy groups such as the Scoliosis Advocacy Network and the Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy group. “We hope this inquiry will be the start of bringing about real change and justice for Harvey,” she declared outside Government Buildings.

The Sherratts have been vocal in their demands for accountability, urging Simon Harris to resign after he promised in 2017 that no child in Ireland would wait more than four months for scoliosis treatment. They claim that had their concerns been addressed sooner, Harvey’s fate could have been different. “It’s a pity that it took our child dying for him to be willing to meet us now,” Gillian remarked.

Before the meeting, Stephen Sherratt emphasized the need for a fully independent statutory inquiry, stating, “We will outline all the extremely scandalous care Harvey received that the Irish public doesn’t even know about.” This sentiment underscores the urgency for reform in the healthcare system.

The Sherratts’ experience has resonated widely, as they continue to advocate for other families facing similar struggles. The Department of Health has been contacted for further comment on this developing story.

As the inquiry progresses, the Sherratts are scheduled to meet with officials again in three weeks to discuss the next steps. The public is closely watching this situation, hoping for meaningful changes that could prevent future tragedies in pediatric care.

Stay tuned for more updates on this critical situation as it unfolds.