Carlow General Election candidate says 'Children with scoliosis need more than an empty promise'

Sinn Féin candidate in the upcoming General Election for Carlow-Kilkenny Áine Gladney Knox has criticised the Government for the disgraceful manner in which it treats children with scoliosis and spina bifida.

Ms Gladney Knox said that An Taoiseach Simon Harris made a commitment seven years ago to these children and asked if it was just another empty promise.

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Ms Gladney Knox said:

“The treatment of children with scoliosis and spina bifida who are waiting for surgery is disgraceful. These children wait in agony for operations that can save and change their lives and the longer they wait, the worse their condition gets.

“It is a race against the clock and against the child's condition becoming inoperable and the prospect of permanent paralysis. There are too many children in this awful situation. The case of Harvey Sherratt, an 8 year old boy who has scoliosis and spina bifida and was removed from the waiting list for surgery without his parents knowing, has rightfully received a great deal of media attention in recent days. Harvey is unfortunately not an isolated case.

“In general, there is a lack of transparency around waiting lists, including hidden lists and a lack of data collection on why people are removed from waiting lists.

“It has been seven years since Simon Harris as Minister for Health promised children with scoliosis that they would not wait longer than 4 months for surgery. An Taoiseach is good at making promises but we have yet to see him deliver on any of them. Parents of children with autism, scoliosis or special needs have all tired of hearing his promises.

“Last February, Sinn Féin put forward a plan for paediatric orthopaedic services that would eliminate waiting lists in cooperation with parents, advocates, and clinicians. The Government voted against that plan and here we are more than six months later and things are only getting worse for children like Harvey.”