The Daily Star Ireland
More than 2,200 letters have been issued to parents of children who underwent hip surgery for developmental dysplasia, offering routine follow-up appointments as part of an ongoing clinical review. The initiative comes as health authorities respond to early recommendations from an independent audit that is still in progress.
Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has contacted 1,757 families whose children had the surgery at Temple Street and Crumlin hospitals. In addition, 503 letters have been sent by the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh (NOHC), which is also participating in the review.
The letters inform parents that their children will be scheduled for standard follow-up assessments in the coming months. According to a joint statement from CHI and NOHC, the letters were issued in line with accepted clinical protocols, and they reaffirm the commitment to continue monitoring these patients until they reach skeletal maturity, meaning their bone growth is complete.
The communication also noted that further information will be shared with families once the audit concludes and that any necessary steps identified by the review will be implemented through an action plan. The two institutions acknowledged the concerns raised by affected families and emphasized their commitment to accelerating the audit process and maintaining transparency in subsequent communications.
Government Officials Face Pressure Over Communication and Scope of Review
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she recognizes the concern among families and confirmed the audit is nearing its final stages. She expects it to be completed imminently. Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheál Martin indicated the government aims to receive the audit findings by the end of next week.
The issue was raised in the Dáil by opposition parties, including the Social Democrats and Aontú, who criticized the government for inadequate transparency and alleged miscommunication regarding the scope and purpose of the follow-up letters. Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan questioned whether all affected families had been properly contacted and accused the government of deliberately avoiding accountability. Martin responded by stating the issue is serious and that the government’s goal is to present accurate information to families.
He clarified that the letters were issued in response to an early recommendation from a draft audit report that had surfaced in the media. However, he added that the number of letters is not the central issue, and transparency in communication remains a top priority.
Audit Origins, Scope, and Parental Concerns
The CHI-commissioned review was launched in July of the previous year. It focuses on a randomized and anonymized sample of hip dysplasia surgeries conducted between 2021 and 2023 at Crumlin, Temple Street, and Cappagh hospitals. These procedures are performed when a child’s hip joint is underdeveloped, often requiring surgical intervention to prevent complications later in life.
The review seeks to determine whether surgical decisions and criteria were applied consistently across the three hospitals and to assess the necessity of surgery in each case. In letters sent to families, CHI confirmed that children not already part of long-term follow-up care will be offered appointments. The letter emphasizes that the check-ups are routine and not urgent.
The correspondence also notes that the audit is ongoing and that no conclusions or interim findings can be disclosed at this stage. Nonetheless, it mentions that an early recommendation from the review advises that all children who have undergone surgery for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) should continue receiving follow-up care until full bone development is achieved, aligning with international best practices.
Political Fallout and Dispute Over Messaging
Opposition figures have expressed frustration with the way information has been shared. Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said parents are being left without clear answers and accused the government of fueling confusion. He questioned whether the audit’s two-year scope would exclude older cases that could also be relevant, arguing that families deserve to know if past errors occurred.
Tóibín raised concerns on national radio, highlighting discrepancies between the Taoiseach’s statements and the content of the letters. He noted that while the letters frame the follow-up appointments as routine, government officials have suggested the effort is based on identifying affected children outside the audit’s current timeline. He pointed out the inconsistency between official statements, media reporting, and what parents are being told directly.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald added to the criticism, alleging that the Taoiseach misrepresented the nature of the letters in the Dáil. She stated that it is clearly mentioned in the correspondence that the outreach was driven by early findings from the ongoing audit and was not a routine administrative step.
McDonald accused the government of failing to provide clarity and called for full transparency, especially if children were impacted by surgical decisions made in earlier years that fall outside the current audit window. She emphasized the public’s right to know how such clinical processes were handled historically and urged the government not to limit accountability to recent years alone.
