Children’s Health Ireland: Spinal Surgery at Temple Street Helpline now open

Children’s Health Ireland:

Spinal Surgery at Temple Street Helpline now open

- Phone: 01 409 6117

- Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

- Helpline is for spinal surgery patients at Temple Street

CHI at Temple Street Helpline - 01 409 6117 - is open 9am – 5pm for patients and families waiting for spinal surgery and those who may have questions about their child’s spinal surgery in CHI at Temple Street. Any family who has been affected by or is concerned about the reviews announced this week is welcome to call the Helpline.

Our Helpline staff will take your query and engage with the relevant clinical or operational staff member to address your specific query.

Yesterday, 18th September, Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) and the HSE made an announcement that there is to be an external review into aspects of Orthopaedic surgery at CHI at Temple Street. CHI also published a report about spinal surgery for patients with spina bifida in CHI at Temple Street. CHI deeply regrets that children and families did not receive the treatment and care that they are entitled to, and that they deserve. We wish to unreservedly apologise to all those impacted by the actions that are the subject of this report.

CHI acknowledges the anxiety that this news may cause to our patients and their families. However, we would like to reassure our patients and their families that everybody known to have been affected has been contacted. We would like to reassure all other families in our orthopaedic services that if you have not been contacted by CHI about these matters, then these reviews do not involve your child and you do not need to take any action.

However, we understand the concern that these announcements have also caused for other patients and families in Temple Street, who may not have been included in the review, but are on our waiting lists for spinal surgery. We know that many will have questions about what this means for their child’s treatment and waiting time.

In response, today, Tuesday 19th September, Children’s Health Ireland have opened a helpline for patients and their families who are on spinal surgery lists at Temple Street*.

Spinal Surgery at Temple Street Helpline

01 409 6117

Open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm

Helpline staff will be on hand to take patient details and particulars of clinical queries relating to Spinal Surgery at Temple Street. Where appropriate, they will then liaise with relevant clinical staff and arrange for the requested information to be shared with the family. The helpline staff are not in a position to answer questions relating to dates for surgeries at this time.

Our team have already been speaking to families in this position, and can answer 3 frequently asked questions below:

1. My child had a surgery with metalwork involved, could they be affected?

There were 3 patients affected by this issue, and they have been contacted. CHI has commissioned a team external to CHI to investigate this very serious matter. In the unlikely event that any further issues arise relating to surgical implants, these patients will be contacted directly and urgently.

1. How do I know if my child who is waiting for spinal surgery is on the consultant’s list who is no longer working?

CHI are writing to all patients/families on the spinal surgery waiting list to inform them of any change in regard to their treating consultant. This communication will be issued to families by post by Tuesday 26th September 2023.

1. My child is on a waiting list for general orthopaedic surgery, when will we get an update?

CHI will contact parents and families to inform them of any change in regard to their treating consultant.