Paul Murphy: Government avoids scrutiny over child's 33-month wait
Paul Murphy said the government put down a motion of confidence to avoid scrutiny of its record on children's health and highlighted the case of Harvey Morrison Sherrish, who waited 33 months for scoliosis surgery. He criticised a broken ministerial promise that no child would wait longer than four months and raised concerns about CHI scandals and consultant practices.
Paul Murphy told the chamber the debate was called because the government itself tabled the confidence motion this week, arguing it was a political move to avoid scrutiny of its record on children's health immediately before the presidential election next week.
Murphy described Harvey's 33-month wait for scoliosis surgery, during which his spinal curve went from 75 to 130 degrees. He quoted Harvey's parents — Gillian and Stephen — recounting cancelled family holidays, a postponed sibling's heart surgery and the loss of childhood and quality of life while awaiting treatment.
Murphy cited the latest figures showing 40 children waiting more than six months for spinal surgery and referenced an ongoing stream of scandals emerging from CHI. He also questioned whether consultant activity — including unnecessary surgeries performed for profit — contributed to excessive waits.
Murphy credited Harvey's parents and thousands of supporters for forcing the issue into public view, noting mass protests in August and saying public pressure compelled the government to listen. He warned that while the government may win the parliamentary vote, the people would have a chance to pass their verdict at the ballot box in nine days' time.
Government motion and timing
Paul Murphy told the chamber the debate was called because the government itself tabled the confidence motion this week, arguing it was a political move to avoid scrutiny of its record on children's health immediately before the presidential election next week.
Harvey Morrison Sherrish's case
Murphy described Harvey's 33-month wait for scoliosis surgery, during which his spinal curve went from 75 to 130 degrees. He quoted Harvey's parents — Gillian and Stephen — recounting cancelled family holidays, a postponed sibling's heart surgery and the loss of childhood and quality of life while awaiting treatment.
Waiting lists and CHI concerns
Murphy cited the latest figures showing 40 children waiting more than six months for spinal surgery and referenced an ongoing stream of scandals emerging from CHI. He also questioned whether consultant activity — including unnecessary surgeries performed for profit — contributed to excessive waits.
Parents' activism and public reaction
Murphy credited Harvey's parents and thousands of supporters for forcing the issue into public view, noting mass protests in August and saying public pressure compelled the government to listen. He warned that while the government may win the parliamentary vote, the people would have a chance to pass their verdict at the ballot box in nine days' time.
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Transcript
We should be clear why we're having this debate now, because I think some on the government benches are confused about it. We're having this debate now because the government has put down the motion. The government chose to put down the motion of confidence this week in what is clearly, blatantly, openly an attempt to avoid scrutiny of its appalling record, particularly in relation to children's health, right before the presidential election next week. That's what's in the papers, that's what we can read, so that's why we're here in that fashion today. It's a political stroke, it's a political stroke that is typical of this government, and the same source of short-sighted, politically motivated logic, presumably is what prompted the Tornister to give the solemn promise that he gave when he was Minister for Health, that no child would wait longer than four months for a scoliosis operation. It's what should be the case, obviously, and I'm sure it seems like a convenient thing to say at the time to get the heat off him as Minister for Health, but it wasn't true. What happened in reality was that Harvey Morrison Sherrish was forced to wait 33 months for scoliosis surgery, while the curve of his spine went from 75 to 130 degrees. Many more children are still waiting as we speak. The latest figures show there are 40 children waiting for more than six months for spinal surgery, while their parents listen appalled to the never-ending stream of scandals emerging from CHI. Would they have had to wait so long if the consultants weren't off performing unnecessary surgeries for profit? Will we ever know the truth? The other reason that we're here discussing this issue is because of Harvey's courageous parents, Gillian and Stephen, who have never given up, never stopped speaking out, and have forced an uncaring government to listen. If they hadn't spoken out, if thousands of people hadn't supported them, if thousands of people hadn't come onto the streets in August, we wouldn't be here today. At that protest, Harvey's mother, Gillian, told the crowd that he had to have his whole life put on hold while he waited. We cancelled family holidays, cancelled our wedding, and postponed his sister's heart surgery as he sat and waited for a date for surgery. We had to watch him deteriorate, cry in pain, struggle to breathe and lose the sparkle in his eye over those 33 months. Most importantly, it robbed him of his childhood, his comfort, his quality of life and the opportunity to make precious family memories with him. That, to us, is something we will never get over. People came out to fight for justice for Harvey, to fight against the weight that Harvey had to endure, but also because Harvey symbolises all the children who have to wait. The children who have to wait for scoliosis surgery, the children who have to wait for appropriate school places, the children who have to wait for assessment of needs, the children who have to wait for therapies. You may win the vote tonight, and that is likely, but I would say that the people will have a chance to pass their verdict in nine days' time, and I'm not so sure. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. Come on from the textbook. Come on, I'm going to call you. Welcome to the textbook. I'm going to call you a pediatry of your father on the textbook. I'm going to call you a pediatry of your father, in my school, and I'll show you the