Over 14,000 children could face prolonged waits for surgery following a major funding freeze affecting Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), prompting mounting concern among parents and healthcare advocates.
The suspension, first reported by the Irish Independent, stems from the abrupt halt of support from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), which had been facilitating around 500 surgeries each week. The decision to pause funding reportedly follows serious internal concerns at CHI, including allegations of a toxic workplace culture and claims that some surgeries may have been medically unnecessary.
The funding freeze is expected to exacerbate already long waiting lists, with thousands of children now potentially waiting months longer for essential medical procedures.
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has called on CHI to release an internal report detailing the issues at the heart of the controversy. However, the hospital has so far not complied with the request. In response, the Government has now referred the matter to An Garda Síochána for further investigation.
A full airing of the internal report and resolution of the underlying issues are likely to be key in resuming surgical operations and restoring public confidence in the health service for children.
