Rhode scoliosis activist meets Health Minister amid CHI concerns

Rhode's Gary Farrell, founder of Scoliosis Ireland, met with Health Minister Jennifer Carroll McNeil this week to discuss concerns over the care provided by Children's Health Ireland (CHI).

It comes after the organisation appealed for changed to the Board of CHI in the days following a HIQA review which criticised the use of unapproved springs in spinal surgery at Temple Street Children's University Hospital in Dublin.

Mr Farrell said the meeting with Minister McNeil went "surprisingly well".

"The Minister listened to what we had to say, and although we’ve had meetings with previous Health Ministers and were promised various things over the years that took us nowhere, she was in no rush to get away or dodge any questions and I look forward to see where this leads."

The organisation highlighted issues around the unacceptable wait times for children with scoliosis, lack of communication with parents, and the Board of CHI be disbanded after "a litany of failures".

To learn more about Scoliosis Ireland, you can find it on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.