Rose Conway-Walsh Demands Second Opinion for Teen Scoliosis Patient
Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh raised the case of 16-year-old scoliosis patient Mikey Henry and urged the Taoiseach to facilitate a second opinion from a spinal specialist with respiratory expertise. She said the patient was ready for surgery but had been repeatedly let down by delays and requested specialist input either in Ireland or abroad.
Case details
Rose Conway-Walsh outlined that the patient, named as Mikey Henry, is a sixteen-year-old scoliosis case who had been prepared for an operation but faced repeated delays. She told the Taoiseach that the child and his parents have been let down by the system and need access to complex-care expertise.
Request for specialist opinion
The deputy asked the Taoiseach to facilitate an opinion from a spinal specialist who handles complex cases, together with respiratory expertise. She specifically requested that such an opinion could be sourced in Ireland or abroad to ensure appropriate assessment and care.
Departmental accountability
Rose Conway-Walsh stressed that the unit within the department must deliver tangible results for scoliosis patients and highlighted the lack of response from successive health ministers. She framed the request as a straightforward facilitation for a family seeking a second clinical opinion.
Taoiseach's reply
The Taoiseach acknowledged the possibility of differing consultant perspectives in complex cases and said that a second opinion should not be an issue. He asked for the full details of the case to be sent to him and committed to following through once those details were received.
Next steps and consequences
If the family provides the case details as requested, the Taoiseach indicated the government will pursue the matter, potentially enabling the child to access specialist assessment and progressing care that has been delayed. The exchange highlights ongoing concerns about access to timely specialist care for complex paediatric cases.
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The Taoiseach, the unit within your department must deliver tangible results, not least so for the scoliosis patients who have been let down. Sixteen-year-old Mikey Henry is a scoliosis patient. I have approached the previous Taoiseach, the Minister for Health, this Minister for Health and there is no response. All I am asking for and all his parents are asking for is requesting an opinion from a spinal specialist that deals with specific complex care along with respiratory expertise either in Ireland or abroad. Taoiseach, I am asking you, could you facilitate this for this child who has been failed by the system? Mikey Henry is his name and he is a scoliosis patient who was ready for an operation but due to the delays he has been let down time and time again. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh raised the issue of the scoliosis patient. It seems what you are suggesting is an opinion has been given but the parents are seeking a second opinion. If you can get the details of the case to me, obviously there shouldn't be an issue with a family being facilitated with a second opinion. That shouldn't be an issue. Obviously in complex cases, consultants may have different perspectives or a child or a family can benefit from a second opinion. If you can send me all the details of that, we will follow through. Thank you. Thank you.
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