Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
1103. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason the Nayagam review into paediatric spinal surgery at Children’s Health Ireland, commissioned in September 2023, remains at phase one with no completion date provided to the HSE; and the steps being taken to ensure full accountability and appropriate scope given its linkage with ongoing hip surgery probes. [12035/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPhase 1 of the independent external review of the paediatric orthopaedic surgery service at CHI and Dublin Hospitals that is being led by Mr Nayagam has been completed. On the 28th January I received a high level brief from the HSE CEO on Phase 1, and as part of this briefing I received the Phase 1 Report. I immediately requested a more detailed clinical briefing with the author of the report Mr Nayagam. For this to take place legal advice had to be sought given the significant legal constraints regarding this Report. The clinical briefing then took place on Friday the 6th February.
As with all matters, my priority is timely and appropriate engagement with patients and families.
Letters issued to the 91 patients and families involved in the review on the 10th of February. Patients and families are also being contacted directly by phone.
Mr Nayagam has recommended that 62 of these patients receive further clinical follow-up, and these appointments are being held as soon as possible.
The HSE will also be conducting a wider look-back review at the individual consultant’s practice.
Phase 2 of the Nayagam review continues. As per the terms of reference, the final report will be submitted to the review’s Commissioner at the conclusion of the Independent Review and published thereafter.
