CHI board must go
CHI board must go - The Labour Party
- Systems failure led to improper and unethical treatment of children.
- It is a gross mistake to dismiss the issue as the failing of a single surgeon.
- Difficult to have confidence in the board given that it is tasked with having to manage two of the most significant projects our health system has ever seen- review and reform of CHI operations, processes and culture plus managing the transition to the new Children’s hospital.
Labour health spokesperson Marie Sherlock TD said it is time for the removal of the board of Children’s Health Ireland (CHI).
Deputy Sherlock said the system failed to protect children in desperate need of surgery, and that the buck must stop with the board.
Deputy Sherlock said:
“The devastating HIQA report into spinal surgeries carried out by CHI raises a series of fundamental questions. Patients, their families and the wider public need to have confidence that the board of CHI can both oversee significant reforms and manage the transition to the new children’s hospital building.
“Given the seriousness of the systemic failure within CHI to properly protect children in their care and the enormity of the scandal regarding hip operations which we do not have full detail on, I am not confident the existing board can make the necessary changes in an urgent and comprehensive manner.
“The reality is that five CHI board members have served since 2018, one since 2020 – only one was a clinician. This does not seem appropriate to me given the serious level of oversight that should have been expected of the board.
“Section 12 of the Children’s Health Act is crystal clear: “Persons appointed to the Board shall be persons who have, in the opinion of the Minister, experience or expertise in matters connected to the functions of Children’s Health Ireland or to corporate governance and management generally.”
“Labour does not believe that the board cannot continue.”
“While Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are seeking to downplay the issue as the actions of a single surgeon, it is much broader than that.
“The care of three children prompted the HIQA report, but on careful analysis of the report, it’s clear that the system failed, and the board failed in its duty.
“The HIQA recommendations are onerous and will demand organisation wide review, reform and long-term systemic change by CHI and the HSE.
“At this stage, it does not seem reasonable to have a separate board for CHI, when the HSE will be compelled to have much greater operational oversight going forward. This duplication does not make sense.
“The events that have led us to this point are deeply regrettable and the children and families impacted are rightly outraged that this could ever have occurred under the watch of CHI. However the Board failed in its clear duty to protect children who need care.
“As well as ensuring best in class care for children, the CHI board is also responsible for managing the transition to the new Children’s Hospital. However in light of today’s report, I no longer believe that the CHI board would be capable of transforming its operations as per the HIQA recommendations.”