An external review into spinal surgeries at Temple Street Children’s Hospital has been widened to include extra cases which has resulted in a delay in its completion.
A UK expert was asked to conduct a review last September into spinal surgeries involving 19 children.
Serious concerns had been identified by Children’s Health Ireland relating to poor surgical outcomes and the use of an unauthorised device.
Selvadurai Nayagam, a consultant in orthopaedics and trauma, has now been asked to widen the review to include a further 17 potential cases of concerns.
It is understood that the additional cases do not relate to the spring device being inserted but to surgical practice.
The report by Mr Nayagam was initially expected to be published by the end of 2023 but is now not expected to be ready until April.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly plans to set up a taskforce on spinal surgery waiting lists for children and wants to hear the views from advocacy groups.
He wrote to a number of groups yesterday inviting their representatives to a meeting to discuss terms of references for the taskforce.
