Harris must answer for role in Harvey Morrison Sherratt tragedy, says Soc Dems

The full multidisciplinary report on the timeline of care provided to Harvey Morrison Sherratt must be completed and provided to his family as a matter of urgency, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice.

Speaking ahead of next weekend’s demonstration march in Dublin in memory of the nine-year-old, who had spina bifida and scoliosis and passed away late last month, Deputy Rice said:

“I would first like to express my deepest sympathies to the family of Harvey Morrison Sherratt on his tragic passing.

“Like so many other children, he and his family have been utterly failed by the State. There can be no excuse for the continued violations of children’s right to timely healthcare.

“Children with scoliosis and spina bifida are paying the highest price for CHI’s inability to deal with spinal surgery waiting lists over many years. Successive Ministers for Health must also answer for their role, including Simon Harris, who in 2017 made a commitment that no child would wait more than four months for spinal surgery. Eight years later, that commitment remains undelivered.

“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have shown they are simply incapable of getting to grips with this issue. It is inhumane for a child with scoliosis to be left to deteriorate on a waiting list, during which time spinal curves worsen. Children are also becoming inoperable due to these unacceptable delays.

“What will it take before this government and CHI act with the urgency required?

“The full multidisciplinary report on the timeline of care provided to Harvey must be completed and given to his family as a matter of urgency. In addition, Simon Harris needs to make a statement to the Dáil.”