Parents and a consultant at Temple Street Hospital have voiced apprehensions regarding the prolonged waiting lists affecting children in need of life-altering surgeries, exacerbating concerns surrounding the institution after recent controversies.

The hospital's reputation came under scrutiny following reports of one child's death and severe post-surgery complications experienced by others following spinal procedures.

The absence of consultant surgeon Connor Green, who has been on voluntary leave for nearly a year without replacement, has compounded the waiting list crisis. Currently, several hundred children await spinal and orthopaedic surgeries at Temple Street, with some enduring waits exceeding a year.

Professor Damian McCormack, lead paediatric orthopaedic consultant surgeon at Temple Street, has urged hospital management to facilitate Green's return to alleviate the backlog. McCormack emphasized that the delay in Green's reinstatement exacerbates the suffering of children awaiting surgeries for painful and complex limb and spinal conditions.

Highlighting the urgency of timely interventions, one mother shared her struggles in obtaining information about her daughter's treatment plan after a canceled appointment. Her four-year-old daughter, afflicted with a rare genetic condition, faces time-sensitive issues with her hips, knees, and toes, necessitating swift assessment and potential surgery before she turns five in October.

Expressing relief over securing a new appointment for her daughter with a different consultant, the mother remains anxious about meeting the October deadline given the hospital's waiting times.1While some parents have been offered the option of seeking treatment abroad to address the backlog, McCormack contends that this approach is neither necessary nor safe.

Responding to inquiries, Children's Health Ireland (CHI) confirmed the extensive waiting lists for orthopaedic surgeries at Temple Street and Crumlin, citing efforts to prioritize patients based on clinical need and explore alternative measures to enhance access to care.

CHI initiated internal and external reviews following last year's controversies, with concerns ranging from surgical techniques to the use of unauthorized devices. Despite calls for Green's reinstatement, his prolonged absence continues to exacerbate the challenges faced by children awaiting critical surgeries at Temple Street Hospital.