IF doctors in other countries saw the state of treatment for Irish kids with scoliosis it would cause an “international scandal”, the Seanad heard. Senator Tom Clonan said medics in other countries would be appalled by how our patients were allowed to suffer and deteriorate. The Irish Sun’s Kids Can’t Wait campaign has been calling for action from the Government to address the wait list hell for children who need urgent orthopaedic or urology surgeries .
Children’s Health Ireland has spoken with medics in other countries to discuss sending Irish kids waiting on spinal surgery abroad for their ops. However, disability rights campaigner Sen Clonan told the Seanad : “The surgeons tell me that if one were to put our children onto an Airbus and fly them to Canada or Boston, it would cause an international scandal because the international medical community would ask what country would allow children to deteriorate to such an extent.” Clonan, who backs our campaign, also told politicians in the chamber about one young girl who was told she will never have full lung function because she missed the therapeutic window.
He raged: “How can we accept, in this republic, when we are awash with money, that a disabled child is told, ‘Hard luck, your lung function will remain at 45 per cent’?” WAITING lists in Ireland have long been a national disgrace. More than 106,000 children are on hospital waiting lists for all treatments. However, a new source of shame has emerged.